4758

An invention where a laser device is used to stimulate the natural predatory and visual oriented instincts of poultry to hunt and chase bugs or other small moving objects. This is a better enrichment option for poultry producers to comply with guidelines to improve poultry health and welfare.

Current enrichment options to comply with guidelines to improve poultry health and welfare are physical barriers, including perches, mazes, straw bales, field tile and others. They may become biohazardous as the poultry can deposit bodily fluid or feces on, and then this becomes a point for further propagation of infection for diseases such as avian influenza, respiratory disease, coccidiosis, etc.  Besides, they are obstacles for personnel working in the building. ISU researchers developed a device where a laser is mounted in the poultry building that turns on at specific intervals and projects a dot that moves randomly around the floor. This emulates natural predatory behavior for poultry and they chase the laser, as they are visual feeders. No other form of enrichment exists to meet this need. Importantly, this laser enrichment has been designed to increase movement and it does not increase pathogens as it is not a physical object the poultry interact with. Furthermore, producers are able to move around the building uninhibited for flock health checks and building cleanout with an unobstructed view.

• Likely to be superior to current physical enrichment solutions

• Improved feed conversion ratios

• Improved well-being of the bird and future production, as well as leg lameness

• The added benefit comply with current guidelines for poultry health and welfare

Patent(s) applied for