Management et bien-être en systèmes de production alternatifs de volailles : Apports du projet européen PPILOW

Alternative poultry systems that are particularly widespread in France and in Europe, are recognized for their management and product quality. However, while access to the free range enables animals to express more behaviours they are motivated to perform, it can also be a risk factor for animal health. These systems are also affected by ethical considerations such as the end of the culling of layer male chicks and the associated regulations. In the European PPILOW project, a number of welfare issues for broilers and laying hens are being studied with different practitioners in organic and free-range production systems, including the use of dual-purpose strains as an alternative to the elimination of male chicks, and the study of the individual variability in broiler range use. The EBENE® application, fine-tuned with PPILOW practitioners and technicians, was explained to free-range broiler farmers in France and in Belgium to assess its usefulness. The various innovations proposed as part of this project are the subject of economic assessment and are evaluated through multi-criteria analyses according to the One Welfare concept, embracing the goals of sustainability as well as animal and human welfare.