Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXXI, Issue 1
Written by Mihnea LUPU, Elena MITRANESCU, Manuella MILITARU
This study was conducted in a poultry breeding farm, aiming to analyse the mating behaviour of birds from a population consisting of parental lines used for slow-growing coloured broiler production. The research focused on direct observations made in the growing hall, assessing the causal relationship between reproductive activity and the incidence of traumatic injuries due to sexual aggression, as well as their impact on final productivity. Following the analysis of reproductive behaviour, based on the examination of 1000 mating attempts, a detailed ethogram was developed. Data collected included details on courtship behaviour, the hen’s response, and the outcome of each attempt. A total of 166 cases of aggressive trauma in hens were identified, with descriptions of each injury location and size. Productivity was evaluated based on the hatching rate obtained. The results revealed a significant correlation between mating behaviour, traumatic injury incidence, and productivity. The intensity of aggression peaked early in the laying period, within the first 5 weeks, when the population was still young and inexperienced.
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