Diagnóstico de bienestar animal dentro de los sistemas de producción de aves de traspatio familiares del cantón Déleg

Abstract

Animal welfare encompasses physical and mental health and includes certain aspects such as feeding, sanitary management, and behavior. This research aimed to identify the promoting and inhibiting factors of animal welfare within backyard poultry (Gallus gallus) production systems in the canton of Déleg based on an adaptation of the Welfare Quality Assessment Protocol. Two hundred fowls from ten farms underwent assessment according to the four principles of animal welfare, including 12 criteria and 35 variables based on feeding, housing, health management, and behavior. The results indicated that within animal welfare promoters, feeding represents 50% —equivalent to an acceptable and improvable level—; housing scored at 82% —equivalent to excellent—; sanitation achieved 96% —also equivalent to excellent—; and behavior at 58% —falling between an acceptable and improvable classification—. Based on these results, the promoters and inhibitors of welfare within the 35 variables were identified. Among the Health criteria promoters, most farms did not present high mortality percentages since the poultry were free of pain, injuries, and diseases. In the ranking of inhibitors is the feeding part since six of the ten farms analyzed did not maintain a constant feeding, and the absence of water for long periods was evident, in addition to not keeping the drinking troughs clean. Keywords: Animal welfare, Welfare Quality, backyard poultry, Creole hen breeds