Effect of Stocking Density on Health of Broiler Chickens: A Comprehensive Review
محورهای موضوعی :E.L.T. Chung 1 , N.A.A. Fauzi 2 , N.A.A. Bakar 3 , M.F.H. Reduan 4 , F.F.A. Jesse 5 , T.C. Loh 6
1 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2 - Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Production and Biodiversity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
3 - Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Production and Biodiversity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
4 - Department of Paraclinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa 16100, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
5 - Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
6 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
کلید واژه: blood indices, broiler chickens, clinical conditions, stocking density, stress bio-marker,
چکیده مقاله :
The health performance of broiler chickens is influenced by various factors, including farm management practices and environmental conditions. However, limited information exists on the relationship between stocking density and broiler health outcomes under commercial conditions. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of different stocking densities on broiler health indicators. Following the Preferred Re-porting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, covering studies pub-lished from 2000 to 2021. This review addresses a critical gap by systematically evaluating how stocking density affects broiler health through clinical, hematological, and stress-related indicators across different housing systems. The results indicated that the average low and high stocking densities were 11 birds/m² and 17 birds/m², respectively. Broilers reared at lower stocking densities consistently exhibited better health outcomes, including lower scores for gait abnormalities, footpad dermatitis, hock lesions, and breast blis-ters. Furthermore, reduced stocking densities were associated with lower heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, corticosterone concentrations, and mortality rates. In conclusion, the evidence consistently demonstrates that lower stocking densities improve broiler health and welfare across diverse management systems.
The health performance of broiler chickens is influenced by various factors, including farm management practices and environmental conditions. However, limited information exists on the relationship between stocking density and broiler health outcomes under commercial conditions. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of different stocking densities on broiler health indicators. Following the Preferred Re-porting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, covering studies pub-lished from 2000 to 2021. This review addresses a critical gap by systematically evaluating how stocking density affects broiler health through clinical, hematological, and stress-related indicators across different housing systems. The results indicated that the average low and high stocking densities were 11 birds/m² and 17 birds/m², respectively. Broilers reared at lower stocking densities consistently exhibited better health outcomes, including lower scores for gait abnormalities, footpad dermatitis, hock lesions, and breast blis-ters. Furthermore, reduced stocking densities were associated with lower heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, corticosterone concentrations, and mortality rates. In conclusion, the evidence consistently demonstrates that lower stocking densities improve broiler health and welfare across diverse management systems.
Abudabos A.M., Samara E.M., Hussein E.O.S., Al‑Ghadi M.Q. and Al‑Atiyat R.M. (2013). Impacts of stocking density on the performance and welfare of broiler chickens. Ital-ian J. Anim. Sci. 12(1), 66-71.
Alghirani M.M., Chung E.L.T., Jesse F.F.A., Sazali A.Q. and Loh T.C. (2022). Effect of Brachiaria decumbens as a novel sup-plementation on the production performance of broiler chick-ens. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 54(6), 386-396.
Alghirani M.M., Chung E.L.T., Kassim N.A., Ong Y.L., Jesse F.F.A., Sazali A.Q. and Loh T.C. (2023). Blood biochemistry and stress biomarkers of broiler chickens supplemented with different levels of Yucca schidigera saponins reared under tropical conditions. Vet. Integr. Sci. 21(1), 1-15.
Arana M.E.P. (2021). Poultry Meat Production in the South American Andes. Meat Nutr. 47(47), 14-26.
Astaneh I.Y., Chamani M., Mousavi S.N., Sadeghi A.A. and Af-shar M.A. (2018). Effects of stocking density on performance and immunity in Ross 308 broiler chickens. Kaf. Univ. Vet. Fak. Derg. 24(4), 483-489.
Benabdeljelil K. and Ayachi A. (1996). Evaluation of alternative litter materials for poultry. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 5(3), 203-209.
Bogosavljević‑Bošković S., Rakonjac S., Dosković V. and Pet-rović M.D. (2012). Broiler rearing systems: a review of major fattening results and meat quality traits. Worlds Poult. Sci. J. 68(2), 217–228.
Bouyeh M., Seidavi A.R., Mohammadi ohamSahoo A., Lau-dadio V. and Tufarelli V. (2017). Effect of climate region and stocking density on ostrich (Struthio camelus) productive per-formances. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 52(1), 44-48.
Cai C.H., Zhao R.X., Wang P., Wang J.S., Li K.X., Zhan X.A. and Wang K.Y. (2019). Effects of different stocking densities on growth performance, antioxidant ability, and immunity of fin-ishing broilers. Anim. Sci. J. 90(4), 583-588.
Chegini S., Kiani A., Parizadian Kavan B. and Rokni H. (2019). Effects of propolis and stocking density on growth perform-ance, nutrient digestibility, and immune system of heat‑stressed broilers. Italian J. Anim. Sci. 18(4), 868-876.
Chung E.L.T., Alghirani M.M., Kamalludin M.H., Nayan N., Jesse F.F.A., Wei O.T.A., Stephen M.A.F.M.H., Reduan M.F.H. and Loh T.C. (2021). Do different vaccination regimes affect the growth performance, immune status, carcass charac-teristics and meat quality of broilers? Br. Poult. Sci. 62(1), 32-37.
Chung E.L.T., Nayan N., Kamalludin M.H., Alghirani M.M., Jesse F.F.A., Kassim N.A., Azizi A., Reduan M.F.H. and Loh T.C. (2020). The effects of alkaline water and rainwater on the production and health performance of commercial broilers un-der tropical conditions. Thai J. Vet. Med. 50(1), 65-73.
Costa H.D.A., Vaz R.G.M.V., Silva M.C.D., Rodrigues K.F., Sousa L.F., Bezerra L.D.S., Ribeiro M.D.C., Barbosa A.F.C., Almeida J.S.D. and Oliveira M.F.D. (2021). Performance and meat quality of broiler chickens reared on two different litter materials and at two stocking densities. Br. Poult. Sci. 62(3), 396-403.
Dawkins M.S., Donnelly C.A. and Jones T.A. (2004). Chicken welfare is influenced more by housing conditions than by stocking density. Nature. 427(6972), 342-344.
Dozier W.A., Thaxton J.P., Purswell J.L., Olanrewaju H.A., Bran-ton S.L. and Roush W.B. (2006). Stocking density effects on male broilers grown to 1.8 kilograms of body weight. Poult. Sci. 85(2), 344-351.
Farhadi D., Hosseini S.M. and Dezfuli B.T. (2016). Effect of house type on growth performance, litter quality and incidence of foot lesions in broiler chickens reared in varying stocking density. J. BioSci. Biotechnol. 5(1), 69-78.
Fortomaris P., Arsenos G., Tserveni‑Gousi A. and Yannakopou-los A. (2007). Performance and behaviour of broiler chickens as affected by the housing system. Arch. fur Geflügelkd. 71(3), 97-104.
Gabanakgosi K., Moreki J.C., Nsoso S.J. and Tsopito C.M. (2014). Influence of stocking density on growth performance of family chicks reared up to 18 weeks of age under an intensive system. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. Appl. Sci. 3(3), 291-302.
Garcia R.G., Almeida Paz I.C.L., Caldara F.R., Nääs I.A., Pereira D.F. and Ferreira V.M.O.S. (2012). Selecting the most adequate bedding material for broiler production in Brazil. Rev. Bras. Cienc. Avic. 14(2), 121-127.
Gholami M., Chamani M., Seidavi A., Sadeghi A.A. and Aminaf-schar M. (2020). Effects of stocking density and environ-mental conditions on performance, immunity, carcass charac-teristics, blood constitutes, and economical parameters of Cobb 500 strain broiler chickens. Italian J. Anim. Sci. 19(1), 524-535.
Ghosh S., Majumder D. and Goswami R. (2012). Broiler perform-ance at different stocking density. Indian J. Anim. Res. 46(4), 381-384.
Gillespie J., Nehring R. and Hallahan C. (2017). New versus old broiler housing technology: Which leads to greater profit? J. Appl. Poult. Res. 26(1), 72-83.
Goo D., Kim J.H., Park G.H., Delos Reyes J.B.D. and Kil D.Y. (2019). Effect of heat stress and stocking density on growth performance, breast meat quality, and intestinal barrier func-tion in broiler chickens. Animals. 9(3), 107-115.
Henrique C.D.S., Oliveira A.F.G., Ferreira T.S., Silva E.S., Mello B.F.F.R.D., Andrade A.D.F., Martins V.D.S.F., Paula F.O.D., Garcia E.R.D.M. and Bruno L.D.G. (2017). Ef-fect of stocking density on performance, carcass yield, produc-tivity, and bone development in broiler chickens Cobb 500®. Semin. Ciênc. Agrár. 38(4), 2705-2718.
Kapell D.N.R.G., Hill W.G., Neeteson A.M., McAdam J., Koer-huis A.N.M. and Avendaño S. (2012). Genetic parameters of foot-pad dermatitis and body weight in purebred broiler lines in 2 contrasting environments. Poult. Sci. 91(3), 565-574.
Karaarslan S. and Nazlıgül A. (2018). Effects of lighting, stocking density, and access to perches on leg health variables as wel-fare indicators in broiler chickens. Livest. Sci. 218, 31-36.
Kassim N.A., Chung E.L.T., Alghirani M.M., Ong Y.L., Kamal-ludin M.H., Jesse F.F.A. and Loh T.C. (2023). Effects of Brachiaria decumbens leaf meal supplementation on the health, blood biomarkers, and relative telomere length of broiler chickens raised in tropical environments. South African J. Anim. Sci. 53(5), 667-677.
Kaukonen E., Norring M. and Valros A. (2016). Effect of litter quality on foot pad dermatitis, hock burns and breast blisters in broiler breeders during the production period. Avian Pathol. 45(6), 667-673.
Kridtayopas C., Rakangtong C., Bunchasak C. and Loongyai W. (2019). Effect of prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation in diet on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, stress, and bacterial population under high stocking density condition of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci. 98(10), 4595-4605.
Lallo C.H.O., Williams M., Campbell M. and Palmer D.W. (2012). The effect of stocking density on the performance and eco-nomic implications for broilers grown to 42 days in open‑sided house in Trinidad. Trop. Agric. 89(3), 170-180.
Lima K., Moura D., Carvalho T., Bueno L. and Vercellino R. (2011). Ammonia emissions in tunnel‑ventilated broiler houses. Rev. Cienc. Agron. 13(4), 265-270.
Lima R.C., Freitas E.R., Gomes H.M., Cruz C.E.B. and Fernan-des D.R. (2018). Performance of broiler chickens reared at two stocking densities and coir litter with different height. Rev. Cienc. Agron. 49(3), 519-528.
Lolli S., Bessei W., Cahaner A., Yadgari L. and Ferrante V. (2010). The influence of stocking density on the behaviour of featherless and normally‑feathered broilers under hot ambient temperature. Arch. fur Geflügelkd. 74(2), 73-80.
Madilindi M.A., Mokobane A., Letwaba P.B., Tshilate T.S., Banga C.B., Rambau M.D., Bhebhe E. and Benyi K. (2018). Effects of sex and stocking density on the performance of broiler chickens in a subtropical environment. South African J. Anim. Sci. 48(3), 459-468.
McLean J.A., Savory C.J. and Sparks N.H.C. (2002). Welfare of male and female broiler chickens in relation to stocking den-sity, as indicated by performance, health and behaviour. Anim. Welf. 11(1), 55-73.
Muharlien M., Sudjarwo E., Yulianti D.L., Hamiyanti A.A. and Prayogi H.S. (2020). Comparative production performance of broiler under opened house and closed house system. Indone-sian J. Agric. Sci. 30(1), 86-91.
Najafi P., Zulkifli I., Jajuli N.A., Farjam A.S., Ramiah S.K., Amir A.A., O’Reily E. and Eckersall D. (2015). Environ-mental temperature and stocking density effects on acute phase proteins, heat shock protein 70, circulating corticoster-one and performance in broiler chickens. Int. J. Biometeorol. 59(11), 1577-1583.
Onbasilar E.E., Poyraz Ö., Erdem E. and Oztürk H. (2008). Influ-ence of lighting periods and stocking densities on perform-ance, carcass characteristics and some stress parameters in broilers. Arch. fur Geflügelkd. 72(5), 193-200.
Pakage S., Hartono B., Fanani Z. and Nugroho B.A. (2015). Analysis of technical, allocative and economic efficiency of broiler production using closed house system in Malang Dis-trict of East Java, Indonesia. Livest. Res. Rural Dev. 27(9), 1-8.
Perera W.N.U. and Dematawewa C.M.B. (2016). Thermal comfort differences in poultry houses and its influence on growth per-formance of broiler strains. Acta Hortic. 1152, 415-420.
Petek M., Çıbık R., Yıldız H., Sonat F.A., Gezen S.S. and Or-man A. (2010). The influence of different lighting programs, stocking densities and litter amounts on the welfare and pro-ductivity traits of a commercial broiler line. Vet. -Zootech. 51(73), 36-43.
Purswell J.L., Davis J.D., Chesser G.D. and Lowe J.W. (2020). Evaluation of field‑stored switchgrass hay as bedding material for broilers. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 29(1), 284-287.
Qaid M., Albatshan H.I., Shafey T.I., Hussein E.I. and Abudabos A.M. (2016). Effect of stocking density on the per-formance and immunity of 1‑ to 14‑d‑old broiler chicks. Bra-zilian J. Poult. Sci. 18(4), 683-692.
Sanotra G.S., Lawson L.G., Vestergaard estergaardon L.G., (2001). Vesterdensity on the performance and immunity of 1ity of 1 performanctibial dyschondroplasia in broilers. J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci. 4(1), 71-87.
Santos F.B.O., Santos Júnior A.A., Oviedo‑Rondon E.O. and Ferket P.R. (2012). Influence of housing system on growth performance and intestinal health of Salmonella‑challenged broiler chickens. Curr. Res. Poult. Sci. 2(1), 1-10.
Sarica M. and Cam M.A. (2000). Potential of hazelnut husks as a broiler litter material. Br. Poult. Sci. 41(5), 541-543.
Sekeroglu A., Sarica M.U.S.A., Gulay M.S. and Duman M. (2011). Effect of stocking density on chick performance, in-ternal organ weights and blood parameters in broilers. J. Anim. Vet. Adv. 10(2), 246-250.
Seng K.W.K., Zheng A.L.T., Ong Y.L., Lease J., Andou Y., Jesse F.F.A., Dunshea F.R. and Chung E.L.T. (2025). Physico-chemical properties and cost‑benefit of supplementing signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) in Sasso broilers production. BioResources. 20(2), 3176-3194.
Sevim Ö., Ahsan U., Tatlı O., Kuter E., Khamseh E.K., Temiz A.R., Özdemir Ö.S., Aydın A.K., Özsoy B., Kök-sal B.H., Cengiz Ö. and Önol A.G. (2021). Effect of high stocking density and dietary nano‑zinc on growth perform-ance, carcass yield, meat quality, feathering score, and footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens. Livest. Sci. 253, 104727-104735.
Shepherd E.M. and Fairchild B.D. (2010). Footpad dermatitis in poultry. Poult. Sci. 89(10), 2043-2051.
Simitzis P.E., Kalogeraki E., Goliomytis M., Charismiadou M.A., Triantaphyllopoulos K., Ayoutanti A., Niforou K., Hager-Theodorides A.L. and Deligeorgis S.G. (2012). Impact of stocking density on broiler growth performance, meat charac-teristics, behavioural components and indicators of physio-logical and oxidative stress. Br. Poult. Sci. 53(6), 721-730.
Tong H.B., Lu J., Zou J.M., Wang Q. and Shi S.R. (2012). Effects of stocking density on growth performance, carcass yield, and immune status of a local chicken breed. Poult. Sci. 91(3), 667-673.
Türkyilmaz M.K. (2008). The effect of stocking density on stress reaction in broiler chickens during summer. Turk-ish J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 32(1), 31-36.
Vargas-Galicia A.J., Sosa-Montes E., Rodríguez-Ortega L.T., Pro-Martinez A., Ruiz-Feria C.A., González-Cerón F., Gallegos-Sánchez J., Arreola-Enríquez J. and Bautista-Ortega J. (2017). Effect of litter material and stocking density on bone and ten-don strength, and productive performance in broilers. Cana-dian J. Anim. Sci. 97(4), 673-682.
Wasti S., Sah N. and Mishra B. (2020). Impact of heat stress on poultry health and performances, and potential mitigation strategies. Animals. 10(8), 1266-1275.
Weimer S.L., Mauromoustakos A., Karcher D.M. and Eras-mus M.A. (2020). Differences in performance, body confor-mation, and welfare of conventional and slow-growing broiler chickens raised at 2 stocking densities. Poult. Sci. 99(9), 4398-4407.
Xin H., Li H., Burns R.T., Gates R.S., Overhults D.G. and Ear-nest J.W. (2009). Use of CO2 concentration difference or CO2 balance to assess ventilation rate of broiler houses. Trans. ASABE. 52(4), 1353-1361.
Zhao Z.G., Li J.H., Li X. and Bao J. (2014). Effects of housing systems on behaviour, performance and welfare of fast-growing broilers. Asian-Australasian J. Anim. Sci. 27(1), 140-146.
