Veterinary Public Health Institute, Animal Welfare Division

Exploration of sensor-based behavioural observation for individual laying hens and broiler breeders and the relationship with animal welfare

Laura Candelotto

Doctoral Student

Center for proper housing: poultry and rabbits (ZTHZ)

Phone: +41 31 684 57 55
E-Mail: laura.candelotto@vetsuisse.unibe.ch
Postal Address: Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ)
Animal Welfare Division
Veterinary Public Health Institute
University of Bern
Burgerweg 22
3052 Zollikofen

Research

Comparison of traditional and novel behavioural observation methods in poultry and rabbits

CV

I obtained my Bachelor degree at the University of Bern, where I investigated the incidence of floor eggs in different housing systems of broiler breeders and tested possible measures to reduce their occurrence. After receiving my degree, I worked as a research assistant at the Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits in Zollikofen and participated in a study investigating the role of genetic variation in laying hen susceptibility to keel bone fractures. For my Master degree, I joined the Animal Behaviour group at the University of Zurich where I focused on how domestication has affected animal behavior. In cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the Wolf Science Center in Vienna, I compared prosocial behavior in dogs and wolves. In May 2019, I started my Ph.D. project at the University of Bern, where I am investigating and comparing traditional (i.e., direct and video) and novel (i.e., automated individual and group-level) behavioral observation methods in poultry and rabbits. I intend to extend the comparison of methods to determine their association with animal health and welfare.

Publications

For the full publication list, please check here.

Jump to: 2022 | 2020 | 2017

2022

Candelotto, Laura; Grethen, Klara J; Montalcini, Camille M; Toscano, Michael J; Gómez, Yamenah (2022). Tracking performance in poultry is affected by data cleaning method and housing system. Applied animal behaviour science, 249, p. 105597. Elsevier 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105597

2020

Candelotto, L.; Stadelmann, M.; Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G.; Stratmann, A.; van de Braak, T.G.H.; Guggisberg, D.; Zysset, Philippe; Toscano, Michael J. (2020). Genetic variation of keel and long bone skeletal properties for 5 lines of laying hens. Journal of applied poultry research, 29(4), pp. 937-946. Elsevier 10.1016/j.japr.2020.09.004

van den Oever, A.C.M.; Candelotto, L.; Kemp, B.; Rodenburg, T.B.; Bolhuis, J.E.; Graat, E.A.M.; van de Ven, L.J.F.; Guggisberg, D.; Toscano, M. J. (2020). Influence of a raised slatted area in front of the nest on leg health, mating behaviour and floor eggs in broiler breeders. Animal, 15(2), p. 100109. Cambridge University Press 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100109

2017

Candelotto, Laura; Stratmann, Ariane; Gebhardt, Sabine; Rufener, Christina Barbara; van de Braak, Teun; Toscano, Michael Jeffrey (2017). Susceptibility to keel bone fractures in laying hens and the role of genetic variation. Poultry Science, 96(10), pp. 3517-3528. Poultry Science Association 10.3382/ps/pex146