Leuprolide acetate can reversibly prevent egg laying in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430130206.abs Leuprolide acetate acts as a superactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist in mammals. Its administration to humans in a depot formulation (Lupron Depot 3.75 mg; TAP Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, IL) consisting of microspheres suspended in a diluent of carboxymethylcellulose and other elements leads to an initial increase in serum gonadotropin levels followed by a prolonged […]
The prevalence of feather pecking and development in commercial flocks of laying hens
Feather pecking and cannibalism remain serious problems when laying hens are intensely farmed, but there is not much data on the true prevalence of feather pecking under commercial conditions. A recent epidemiological survey estimated it to be 37.5%. To verify this value we collected data on the occurrence of feather pecking by means of direct […]
Measuring public support for animal welfare legislation: A case study of cage egg production
A contingent valuation survey of 2000 people in Great Britain was conducted to find out about people’s concerns about farm animal welfare and their willingness to pay to support legislation to phase out the use of cages in egg production in the European Union (EU) by 2005. The survey found that respondents were concerned about […]
The effect of essential oils showing acaricidal activity against the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) on aspects of welfare and production of laying hens
The poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) causes severe welfare concerns for laying hens arising from anaemia and disease transmission, and has been identified as an associated risk factor in cannibalistic feather pecking. Previous work suggests that essential oils may offer an alternative to synthetic acaricides to control D. gallinae. Such alternatives are needed due to […]
The effect of keel fractures on egg-production parameters, mobility and behaviour in individual laying hens
A majority of laying hens fracture their keel bones during the laying cycle. It is not easy for a farmer to identify hens with fractures and hen survival rate seems high. Thus, the effect of both recent and healed fractures on bird welfare is unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of these keel-bone fractures […]
The welfare of laying hens in conventional cages and alternative systems: first steps towards a quantitative comparison
Research synthesis, using techniques such as meta-analysis to combine the results of a number of studies, is a particularly useful technique when there are multiple studies with conflicting results, or where there may be conflicting interests, and can serve to extract the maximum information from animal experiments. The effect of conventional cages and alternative housing […]