O bem estar animal na produção de ovos de matrizes pesadas

Abstract

The Brazilian poultry chain has achieved high growth rates in recent times, and the country occupies a prominent position on the world stage, being the third largest producer and the first largest exporter of chicken meat. In this scenario, it is essential to understand that the broiler development system starts from the acquisition of the breeders, where they will generate fertile eggs. Paying attention to the quality of the genetic material when acquiring the animals is a fundamental point, since it will directly affect the quality of the flock, besides being necessary to carry out appropriate management in their production phases, to ensure the comfort and welfare of these birds. Furthermore, animals that are raised with adequate quality of life will perform well in the production of fertile eggs. Egg quality directly influences hatchability and chick hatchability, and eggs that have a low chance of hatching are usually discarded. Thus, in order to meet the production demand, artificial hatcheries are used, which are strategic environments in poultry production and are fully connected to the breeder farms. For the entire production chain to function normally and maintain product quality, it is necessary to emphasize that it must go hand in hand with animal welfare, in order to ensure the quality of life of the animal meeting the precepts of the five freedoms and the demands of the market. The proper combination of management, care with facilities, temperature, and environment, in addition to seeking ways to replace practices such as induced moulting and beak trimming, are essential to ensure animal welfare and optimize production. This set of management techniques, coupled with the high technologies in Brazil, will impact positively on the entire production chain, ensuring that the country remains as a major world exporter.