Bart Ampe’s research while affiliated with Instituut voor Landbouw en Visserijonderzoek and other places

Catching, carrying, and loading of broilers before transport to the slaughterhouse causes stress. In this study three catching methods (two manual (inverted, upright) and one mechanical) were compared using a cost-benefit analysis of animal welfare, ergonomics and economic analysis. Depopulation of approximately 5,000 broilers per catching method per flock (upright vs. inverted vs. mechanical: n=3; upright vs. inverted: n=9; inverted vs. mechanical: n=3 flocks) was analyzed on 15 commercial farms. Economic considerations (person-hours per 1,000 chickens), ergonomics (catcher survey, ergonomic assessment of simulated catching), and animal welfare on-farm (wing flapping frequency, catcher-bird interaction) and at the slaughterhouse (catch damage and DOA prevalence) were considered. Wing flapping frequency was lower (2.0 ± 0.1 vs. 5.4 ± 0.1, P < 0.001), and catcher-bird interaction was better (3.7 ± 0.2 vs. 4.4 ± 0.2, P < 0.01) for upright catching compared to inverted catching based on a 7-point Likert scale. Prevalence of catch damage was lower for upright versus mechanical catching (15.5 ± 1.3% vs. 17.7 ± 1.4%, P = 0.046). More person-hours per 1,000 broilers were required for upright versus inverted (1.6 ± 0.1 h vs. 1.0 ± 0.1 h) and mechanical catching (0.6 ± 0.3 h) (P < 0.001). Upright catching was 1.5 and 1.2 times more expensive than inverted and mechanical catching based on 20,000 broilers. Compared to inverted catching, fair compensation would increase by €0.012 (upright) and €0.006 (mechanical) per kg of live weight. An ergonomics expert rated manual catching as very demanding, but catchers (n = 16) disliked upright catching (more labor-intensive). This study revealed animal welfare benefits of upright versus inverted (less wing flapping, better catcher-bird interaction) and mechanical catching (less catch damage), whereas mechanical catching provided the best labor conditions. Widespread application of upright catching would require testing of entire flocks and collaboration with the poultry sector to determine fair compensation, improve labor conditions and identify strategies to minimize catch and load duration.

The pre-transport phase induces stress, fear, and injury in poultry, but management choices greatly influence this. Pre-transport practices for spent hens and broilers in Flanders (Belgium) were studied. Poultry farmers (31 of 156 layers and 48 of 203 broiler farmers completed the survey) were surveyed on the selection of unfit chickens, catching and crating, and farmer opinion. A minority of farmers made a specific selection of chickens unfit for transport prior to catching (layers 25%: 5.1 ± 5.9 h, broilers 39%: 6.8 ± 7.0 h). More layer (69%) than broiler farmers (19%) withdrew feed too early (EU regulations stipulate max. 12 h before expected slaughter time). Layer farmers withdrew water earlier than broiler farmers (47.9 ± 51.1 min vs. 20.6 ± 23.3 min). More broiler than layer farmers believed that the container type affects the birds’ welfare (48% vs. 27%; p < 0.05). On broiler farms, mechanical catching was preferred for catchers’ well-being, while upright catching was considered better for animal welfare than catching more than three chickens by one/two legs, wings, or mechanically. Poultry farmers should be sensitized about the need for additional selection before catching, including clear guidelines about judging which birds are fit for transport.

Predicting the discard survival of aquatic animals after fisheries capture using vitality indicators (i.e. individual scores or indices of physical condition) is a resource-efficient approach compared to estimating discard survival from captive observation. But such indicators do not always lead to accurate and robust predictions. Individual scores of reflex impairments and injuries are typically given the same weight when being aggregated into an index, while some reflexes or injuries may contribute to mortality more than others. This study established an analytical methodology and created an index based on differential contributions of individual reflexes and injuries to optimize the prediction of discard survival of bottom-trawled European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). The optimization procedures were applied to a dataset from vitality assessment of 1122 undersized plaice caught during 16 commercial fishing trips and 58 gear deployments in Belgium and Denmark. As welfare indicators, we considered and evaluated against post-capture survival of plaice: original vs. optimized reflex impairment and injury (R&I) index, number of absent reflexes, number of present injuries, number of absent reflexes and present injuries, categorical vitality score and individual reflex and injury scores. These were used in eight candidate generalized linear models (one without any vitality indicator) as explanatory variables to predict survival, with or without biological, environmental, technical and operational covariates, either at the individual fish or trip level. Bruising to the head and body were the most relevant predictors. The optimized R&I index did not perform better than any other vitality indicator, and all the indicators performed poorly in predicting survival probability both at the fish and trip levels without information on air exposure and seawater temperature. This means that they cannot be considered to be independent measures. The categorical vitality score provided a viable alternative to the more labour-intensive, scoring method of reflex responsiveness. Use of reflexes as proxies may not be accurate when they are not independent of environmental, biological or technical variables.

Pre-transport management activities can cause stress, injuries, and mortality in poultry. This study aimed to gather information about the current pre-transport practices (selection of unfit chickens, catching preparations, catching, and crating) for spent hens and broilers by questioning Flemish poultry farmers. The results showed that catching preparations such as an extra selection of chickens unfit for transport was performed by a minority of the poultry farmers, and that layer farmers were less in line with the EU-legislation for water and feed withdrawal than broiler farmers. All birds were caught inverted except for one broiler farmer who used mechanical catching (not yet common in Flanders). Additionally, mechanical catching may involve extra costs, increased biosecurity risks, and specific recommendations for the stable (height and width). The broiler farmers preferred mechanical catching for broiler catchers' well-being, while upright catching was considered better for animal welfare than catching more than three chickens by one/two legs, mechanically, or by wings. Awareness of the need to perform an extra selection by the poultry farmers before catching is required. Preparations like closing areas under the aviary system and removing litter (layers) can further streamline the process and reduce animal suffering.

Competent authorities of many countries, including Belgium, impose control measures (preventing wild bird access to feeders and water facilities, indoor confinement of captive birds, or fencing off outdoor ranges with nets) on professional and non-professional keepers of birds to prevent the spread of avian influenza (AI). Flemish laying hen farmers (FAR, n = 33) and private keepers of captive birds (PRI, n = 263) were surveyed about their opinion on and compliance with AI measures legally imposed during the most recent high-risk period before this survey in 2021. Participants answered questions on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = the worst, 3 = neutral, and 5 = the best). FAR indicated better compliance with the AI measures than PRI, except for net confinement. FAR indicated that they and other poultry farmers complied better with AI measures than PRI. Additionally, PRI indicated that they better complied than other PRI keepers. FAR regarded the AI measures as more effective than PRI. To prevent the spread of AI more effectively, national authorities could focus on information campaigns explaining to private bird keepers the need for the various control measures that they impose. If these campaigns fail, local authorities may need stricter enforcement or alternative ways to increase compliance.

In response to management policies allowing a fraction of fisheries catches to be released, estimates of post-release survival probabilities at the level of fleets or fisheries are required by managers. Scaling from individuals to a population of fish, requires reliable proxies for survival, because due to resource-constraints (i.e. funds, work force) only a limited number of individuals can be tracked for their post-release fate (either in situ by tags or via monitoring in captivity). Although whole-animal vitality or welfare indicators are applied widely to crustaceans and fish, the predictive power can produce mixed results. Vitality indicators rely on visual scores of animal condition (i.e. reflex responsiveness or bleeding injury) that can represent a gradient in stress such as being herded by or trapped inside fishing gear. Resulting scores can be correlated with post-release survival, and coefficients of validated models can be used to predict survival. Here, we present a methodology to optimise predictions and also discuss the limitation of reflexes in being not independent from environmental conditions such as temperature or air exposure. The optimisation procedures were applied to a dataset of 1122 vitality-scored plaice monitored from 16 commercial fishing trips and 58 deployments by both Belgian and Danish bottom trawlers. As welfare indicators we considered and evaluated against post-capture survival of plaice: original vs optimised reflex impairment and injury (R&I) index, number of absent reflexes, number of present injuries, number of absent reflexes and present injuries, categorical vitality score, and individual reflex and injury scores. These were used in eight candidate generalized linear models (one without any vitality indicator) as explanatory variables to predict survival, with or without biological, environmental, technical and operational covariates, either at the individual fish or trip level. Bruising to the head and body were the most relevant predictors. The R&Ioptimised index did not perform better than any other vitality indicator, and all the indicators performed poorly in predicting survival probability both at the fish and trip levels without including information on air exposure and seawater temperature. The categorical vitality score provided a viable alternative to the more labour-intensive, scoring method of reflex responsiveness. Our work illustrated that predictions of discard survival based on vitality proxies asks for caution, especially in management contexts of the Landing Obligation, where ''borrowing" vitality observations from one study to another is practiced in the face of lacking funds to replicate research.

Competent authorities of many countries, including Belgium, impose control measures (preventing wild bird access to feeders and water facilities, indoor confinement of captive birds, or fencing off outdoor ranges with nets) to professional and non-professional keepers of birds to prevent the spread of avian influenza (AI). Flemish laying hen farmers (FAR, n = 33) and private keepers of captive birds (PRI, n = 263) were surveyed about their opinion on, and compliance with, AI-measures legally imposed during the most recent high-risk period before this survey in 2021. Participants answered questions on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = the worst, 3 = neutral, and 5 = the best). FAR indicated better compliance with the AI-measures compared to PRI, except for confinement with nets. PRI and FAR perceived the level of compliance with AI-measures by other private bird keepers to be lower compared to themselves. FAR regarded the AI-measures as more effective than PRI. To prevent the spread of AI more effectively, national authorities could focus on information campaigns explaining to private bird keepers, in particular, the need for the various control measures that they impose, implement alternative control measures that have broader support or implement stricter enforcement of the control measures.

This study explores upright versus inverted catching and crating of spent laying hens. Both catching methods were compared using a cost-benefit analysis that focused on animal welfare, ergonomic, and financial considerations. Data were collected on seven commercial farms (one floor system and six aviary systems) during depopulation of approximately 3,000 hens per method per flock. Parameters such as wing flapping frequency, catcher bird interaction, incidence of catching damage and hens dead on arrival (DOA) were measured and compared between catching methods. Ergonomic evaluations were performed via catcher surveys and expert assessment of video recordings. The wing flapping frequency was lower (3.1 ± 0.6 vs. 4.0 ± 0.5, P < 0.001) and handling was gentler (1.9 ± 0.5 vs. 4.4 ± 0.5, P < 0.001), both on a 7-point Likert scale, for upright versus inverted catching. However, more person-hours per 1000 hens were required for upright than inverted catching (8.2 ± 3.2 h vs. 4.8 ± 2.0 h, P = 0.011), with only wing bruises being significantly less common for upright than inverted catching (1.1 ± 0.6 % vs. 1.7 ± 0.7%, P = 0.04). Upright catching was 1.8 times more expensive than inverted catching; compensation for this cost would require a premium price of approximately €0.0005 extra per egg. Ergonomically, both catching methods were considered demanding, although catchers (n = 29) preferred inverted catching. In conclusion, this study showed animal welfare benefits of upright vs. inverted catching. Industry adoption of upright catching will depend on compensation of the additional labor costs, adjustments to labor conditions and shorter loading times.

Thermal stress can influence the recovery of fish released after capture. Vitality assessments using reflex and behavioural responses require that responses can be observed reliably, independent of temperature. Here, we tested whether reflex and behavioural impairment and survival of beam-trawled and discarded European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) are independent from seasonal air and water temperature deviations. In total, 324 beam-trawled plaice (n = 196 in summer and n = 128 in winter) were exposed to two air temperature treatments and two water treatments (i.e. modified and ambient temperatures for both). The modified treatments (i.e. cooled in summer, warmed in winter) represent the thermal shock a fish may experience when being returned to the water. All reflexes and tested behaviours were affected by ambient temperature, with high impairment noted in summer. None of the reflexes were affected by temperature shocks alone, only body flex was. Body flex was highly impaired under every exposure combination. Fish size and duration of air exposure further influenced impairment of reflexes such as head complex and tail grab. More generally, post-release survival was assessed as 21% [95% CI: 16–28%] in summer and 99% [97–100%] in winter. Beam trawling in summer is likely to induce high reflex impairment and mortality in discarded plaice, and therefore spatial–temporal mitigation approaches should be prioritized over control of on-board temperatures.