| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 動物科學系所 === 98 === Animal husbandry in all over the world’s countries has developed into intensive farming. In the farm, the resources that the animal is distributed had been reduced. Since the book — “Animal Machines” is published, all over the world’s countries are paying more attention to the farm animal’s welfare. The aims of the European Welfare Quality® (2004–2009) project were to design methods for the overall assessment of cattle, pig, and poultry welfare, on-farm and at slaughter. The Austrian government also developed “The Animal Needs Index”, and has been used actually. In Taiwan, people like the meat of country chickens. The country chickens are slow growth meat-type chicken and have different varieties. Therefore, they are produced by different rearing system and manage modes. It will induce different animal welfare problems due to many different factors. The aim of the study was to survey the rearing status of the Taiwan country chickens in commercial farms. And the welfare problems will then be discussed. This investigation was carried out by on-farm interviewing the stockman. The Poultry Association of the Republic of China arranged 50 farms for accept the interview. Contents of the interview referred to the principles of the FAWC “Five Freedoms”, “Animal Needs Index” and Welfare Quality® project. The interview item includes basic information, Farm environment, House and facilities, Management and operation, and Stockmanship. Information was collected by written, audio records, and photograph. The results show that the lameness and contact skin dermatitis often found in broilers rarely happen in Taiwan country chicken. It can’t let all chickens in the house feel comfort in some Taiwan country chicken farms. It has not given chickens the dark periods in some Taiwan country chicken farms. They have done too many immune action, we should discuss whether will result in wasting the bacterin and let the chicken have more stress in this way. Altogether, the majority mode of production of Taiwan country chickens can reach the “Five Freedoms”. But, as noted above, it is unable to make chickens welfare reach the “Five Freedoms” in some of farm system or stockman management. Besides, the more serious is that the general Taiwan country chicken farms have some problems. Most Taiwan country chicken farmers usually have not kept the record of chicken house and chicken itself. They also have some welfare problems in the mode of select breeder of Taiwan country chickens, and the mode of weed sick or weak chicken out. Taiwan country chickens have a potential risk about heat stress in rearing, because the climate of Taiwan and the management system of Taiwan country chickens cause. It is believed that the country chickens have better disease resistance, but in fact, the country chicken have lower survival rate compared with the broiler in this interview. This maybe represent that the Taiwan country chickens have lower welfare level.
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