Evaluasi Penerapan Kesejahteraan Hewan pada Peternakan Ayam Broiler di Kecamatan Batang Kuis

Abstract

One of the most developed poultry industry subsectors in Indonesia is the broiler commodity. When compared to other meats, broiler chickens are one of the cheapest sources of protein. The high and low productivity of broiler chickens is influenced by various factors. This study aims to evaluate the level of application of animal welfare on broiler farms in Batang Kuis Subdistrict, and identify the relationship between animal welfare and broiler productivity. The sampling method used purposive sampling with research subjects of broiler farms that have been operating for at least 5 years. The results showed that most as-pects of animal welfare were well implemented in the farming process. Mean-while, the level of knowledge and application of animal welfare in the transpor-tation process and slaughtering process still needs to be improved. It was found that cage type influenced chicken productivity. Close house cages showed potential to improve welfare and higher productivity compared to open house, especially in unstable tropical climate conditions such as in Batang Kuis. It can be concluded that better understanding of animal needs and implementation of good welfare practices and selection sometimes have a positive impact on broiler productivity in Batang Kuis subdistrict.