The feathers and skin in birds are the first line of defence, but are also important in helping the bird to maintain a stable internal temperature, facilitate integral mobility and ensure successful mating in some species. For poultry, the physical conditions of feathers and skin are important barometers to assess the impact of management and ensure health and welfare. Based on the proceedings of a recent symposium, this book documents the significant developments that have been made in our understanding of the importance of the integument to poultry species. The book:
. Traces the development of the integument over time and discusses our current understanding of its embryonic development.
. Includes a broad range of studies covering genetics, welfare, health, nutrition, and management.
. Promotes research opportunities in an under-studied field.
Providing a comprehensive yet concise summary of the available research, this book is an invaluable resource for both the poultry industry and for researchers in animal science and welfare at undergraduate and graduate levels.
A propos de l’auteur
– Dr Sarah Lambton is a Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. Her research is focussed on animal health and welfare, in particular that of laying hens. She completed her Ph.D .at the University of Bristol in 2008, investigating the risk factors for the development of injurious pecking in loose-housed laying hens. She has subsequently worked on several projects in the same field, investigating the management strategies which may be employed to reduce the risk of injurious pecking in laying hens. Recently she completed a project investigating the effect of cage furnishings on the laying behaviour of hens in enriched cages. She has also a research interest in the behaviour and welfare of sheep, having been involved with research investigating welfare during time spent in markets and travel to the slaughterhouse. Currently she leads a project investigating the effects of early life experience in lambs on behaviour and welfare during later life. Sarah also worked for two years as a scientific epidemiologist at the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, now APHA, and continues to build on this area of expertise in her work at the University of Bristol.