In New Zealand, chicken meat is the largest single source of human campylobacter infections.1 Commercial and backyard poultry also contribute significantly to the spread of diseases in our wild bird populations.2
As surveyed within the Poultry Industry, there is high variability in how serious the farmers take biosecurity.3
MPI reports most of the thousands of chickens and fowls used each year being used for “animal husbandry” research. The majority of the birds used are killed for or in the end of the studies.4
The majority of publications we found on poultry revolved around maximising feeding efficiency and, therefore, profit. This is no surprise, with a retail value of 1.8 billion NZD and around 20 chickens consumed in NZ per capita each year, according to the Poultry Industry Association.5 The demand for their bodies and products creates an incentive for this research. You can learn more about the connection between animal testing and the business of animal agriculture here.
Similarly to the other animals used in farming, this creates a demand for animal experiments as the industry aims to:
- maximise the dollar output per animal;
- innovate its’ way out of climate obligations, as well as
- innovate its way into creating new consumer markets and product trends.
Chickens and markets.
While most chickens are used for research relating to animal agriculture, they are also used for other areas of research; some might surprise you!
For example, Chickens in NZ have been used for:
- agricultural research, including:
- the effect of particle size, preparation temperature, the chickens age or breed,
- how their digestion works
- testing cheaper feedstuffs (meat and bone meal)
- testing feed supplements
- interaction of different nutrients during digestion
- other industry related studies like
- developing easier testing of hormone levels
- testing painkillers and brain activity while in pain
- behaviour research, including:
- remembering a negative experience
- learning to extrapolate between objects and photos of the objects
- telling the duration of something
- if they lose motivation if the correct response at a task is a lot of work
- if expecting a small or big reward influences their behaviour
- studies around unwanted species control to investigate the used toxins
- research trying to model human eyesight in chicks
- cancer drug testing.
We barely found studies on the other species conflated under the “chicken/fowl” section by MPI. But we will keep looking.
Chickens used for science in NZ came mostly from commercial sources, with fewer birds sourced from farms and breeding units.
Discover real-life examples of how chickens have been used in NZ below! We chose a small selection of the studies around maximising feed digestibility or weight gain, as they are all very similar in their setup.
Testing the digestibility of meat and bone meal
Day-old male chicks were fed a commercial diet for broilers (chickens raised for their meat) based on corn-soy and meat and bone meal. Over six weeks, faeces were collected.
Testing a cancer drug on chicken embryos
Ovarian cancer cells were cultured in chicken eggs. The growing tumours were treated with the test drugs, and the resulting tumours were dissected.
Feeding chicks fat to see if it increases protein digestion
Over a hundred 18-day-old chicks were fed test diets without protein but with different fat content. After three days, all were killed to collect their digestive contents.
Finding the lethal dose of a toxin for protected birds
Different bird species were used for dose testing of a predator toxin. Blood samples were taken, and some birds died.
Measuring the digestion of minerals in 25- to 35-day-old chicks
Over 700 chicks were fed different test diets for two weeks before all were killed.
Testing of chickens can learn to time light signals
Six chickens were trained to differentiate between the timing of varying light signals while being kept in individual cages.
Studying the organ and cell level changes in the embryonic heart
Chicken eggs were incubated for around two days before the embryos were cut out and chemically preserved for studies.
Testing the effect of a new feed supplement
Over 250 chicks were in test cages and fed the test diets. After ten days, all were killed.
Testing the efficiency of sedating drugs
Chickens were force-fed or injected with different sedative drugs. Their sedation level and reaction to pain were measured regularly for two hours.
Measuring the digestion of heat-treated soy beans
Over 600 chicks were kept in floor pens. They were put in test cages and fed the test diets to collect their faeces; most were killed.
Testing if trained behaviour lasts when not reinforced in hens
Six hens were put through different sets of tests involving lighted keys and wheat.
Testing if effort of responding influences accuracy in a task in chickens
Hens were trained to peck a brightly lit green key or peck a different red key if the green was only dim. Then, the number of pecks required, brightness and rewards were varied to study the responses.
Studying the interaction of starch and protein digestion in chickens
Over one thousand chicks were put in test cages and fed the test diets. Most were killed to collect their digestives.
Studying learned avoidance in chickens
Hens were put in test chambers and were puffed in the chest with air in certain conditions to see if they learned to avoid them.
Testing if the chicken’s age influences their digestion of corn and barley
Close to 700 chicks were fed different test diets for one week at various ages before all were killed.
Investigating a disease outbreak in hens
Dead or dying hens from an egg farm were analysed for spotty liver disease.
