Mortality and Condemnation in a Slower-growing and a Conventional Fast-growing Broiler Strain

PhD defence by Tahseen Abbood Suwaihi Al-Saeedi

Assessment Committee

Associate professor Louise Ladefoged Poulsen, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Associate professor Tine Iburg, Aarhus University
Associate professor Käthe Kittelsen, Norwegian University of Life sciences and Animalia

Supervisors

Associate Professor Jens Peter Christensen
Associate Professor Ida Thøfner

Department

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Graduate Programme

Veterinary, Animal Health and Microbiological Sciences

Place

Building: 2-70, Room: A2-70.03, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, 1871 - Frederiksberg C

Email address to gain access to the thesis: tahseen.al-saeedi@sund.ku.dk.
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Short description of the thesis

Broiler production is changing toward the use of slower-growing chickens and lower stocking densities to improve animal welfare. However, knowledge about causes of death under different commercial production systems remains limited. This PhD thesis investigates mortality and pathological conditions associated with death in slower-growing Rustic Gold and fast-growing Ross 308 broilers raised under commercial Danish conditions. The research examines mortality during the first week of life, causes of death during the growing period, birds found dead on arrival at the slaughterhouse, and causes of carcass rejection. The findings provide new knowledge about health and welfare challenges associated with different broiler production systems and may contribute to future improvements in broiler health, welfare, and management.