September 12, 2022

USPOULTRY: Researchers explore how stocking density may affect cage-free layers

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announced the completion of a funded research project at Purdue University in which researchers explored how stocking density may affect cage-free layers.

The research was made possible in part by an endowing foundation gift from CCF Brands and is part of the association's comprehensive research programme encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.

According to the summary of the completed project known as "Project #F083: Cage-Free Pullet Density: Production and Welfare Outcomes", Dr. Darrin M. Karcher and Dr. Marisa Erasmus from Purdue University sought to improve pullet welfare in cage-free rearing systems by developing outcome-based (animal-based) welfare measures for pullets reared at different stocking densities.

Findings revealed that pullets thrived at all the densities and feeder spaces evaluated in the project. 

- USPOULTRY