How Are Information Technologies Addressing Broiler Welfare? A Systematic Review Based on the Welfare Quality ® Assessment

Heitor Vieira Rios, Paulo Dabdab Waquil, Patrícia Soster de Carvalho and Tomas Norton
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Heitor Vieira Rios: Center for Studies and Research in Agribusiness, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 7712, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil
Paulo Dabdab Waquil: Department of Economics and Foreign Affairs and Center for Studies and Research in Agribusiness, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 7712, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil
Patrícia Soster de Carvalho: Department of Biosystems, Division Animal and Human Health Engineering, Group M3-BIORES: Measure, Model & Manage of Bioresponses, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Tomas Norton: Department of Biosystems, Division Animal and Human Health Engineering, Group M3-BIORES: Measure, Model & Manage of Bioresponses, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-34

Abstract: This systematic review aims to explore how information technologies (ITs) are currently used to monitor the welfare of broiler chickens. The question posed for the review was “which ITs are related to welfare and how do they monitor this for broilers?”. The Welfare Quality ® (WQ) protocol for broiler assessment was utilized as a framework to analyse suitable articles. A total of 57 studies were reviewed wherein all principles of broiler welfare were addressed. The “good health” principle was the main criteria found to be addressed by ITs and IT-based studies (45.6% and 46.1%, respectively), whereas the least observed principle was “good feeding” (8.8%). This review also classified ITs and IT-based studies by their utilization (location, production system, variable measured, aspect of production, and experimental/practical use). The results show that the current focus of ITs is on problems with conventional production systems and that less attention has been given to free-range systems, slaughterhouses, and supply chain issues. Given the valuable results evidenced by the exploitation of ITs, their use in broiler production should continue to be encouraged with more attention given to farmer adoption strategies.

Keywords: information technology; precision livestock farming; welfare quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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