Projet CHICKENSTRESS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Doctoral Networks
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Because of the high demand for eggs, large numbers of hens are farmed in modern egg production. Because of the intensity of this form of farming, the public has justifiably been concerned about the welfare of these birds. Higher welfare also leads to higher quality eggs, higher productivity, and lower incidence of disease and therefore lower need for antibiotics. We aim to reduce the chronic stress experienced by hens. To this end, we will investigate the neurobiological, genetic and developmental factors that lead to higher stress resilience, and the environmental (housing) factors that lead to chronic stress. Europe has led the world in hen welfare with the complete ban of battery cages (European Union Council Directive 1999/74/EC). However, the replacement housing systems have their own potential welfare challenges. Our goal is to identify these challenges and develop improvements for implementation by industry. We will train a new generation of innovative and entrepreneurial early-stage researchers, able to face different challenges related to poultry farming and to apply scientific knowledge and ideas to products and services for economic and social benefit. To do this, we will constitute an international network of groups with expertise in avian brain research, genetics, welfare and egg farming. The training will be complemented by secondments in different laboratories of the network, workshops, and industrial secondments in the poultry industry. The new generation of professionals will apply this knowledge and experience to improve poultry housing systems, welfare, and product quality, which will grow the sector's resilience in addressing growing societal demands for higher animal welfare and healthier diets. Moreover, they will contribute to strengthen Europe's human capital in R&I, increase Europe's attractiveness as a leading research destination, improve Europe's competitiveness and growth, and engage in an improved knowledge-based economy and society.

Mots clés : animal welfare, chronic stress, poultry, egg production

Participants :
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Autriche) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Trinity College Dublin (Irlande) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 274684.32 €
- Tel Aviv University (Israël) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Bern (Suisse) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 843829.92 €
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norvège) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 292342.32 €
- Ghent University (Belgique) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Linköping University (Suède) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Scotland's Rural College (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 303172.56 €
- CERCA Institution (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 250904.88 €
- Newcastle University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 303172.56 €
- University of St Andrews (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 303172.56 €
- University of Lleida (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 250904.88 €
- University of Edinburgh (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Open University of Israel (Israël) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 263500.92 €
- Max Planck Society (Allemagne) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Utrecht University (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 265619.88 €
- Noldus Information Technology (Pays-Bas) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Instituut voor Landbouw en Visserijonderzoek (Belgique) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 256320.0 €
- Hendrix genetics research,technology & services bv (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 265619.88 €
- The lakes freerange egg company ltd (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €