Sward botanical composition and sward quality affect the foraging behaviour of free-range laying hens
In a two-year experiment, we investigated the influence of sward plant species composition (sward type), stocking duration and state of sward degradation on the foraging behaviour of chickens. Laying hens (ISA Warren) were pastured on 15 sward types including 14 monocultures of grassland plant species (nine grasses and five forb species) and one mixed sward […]