The GroupHouseNet COST Action: exploiting European synergy to reduce feather pecking in laying hens

The COST Action GroupHouseNet focuses on the reduction of damaging behaviour in laying hens and pigs, benefiting from the fact that there are many similarities in causation and solutions for feather pecking and tail biting. The research in the network focuses on three main topics, addressed by the three working groups: 1) Genetics and damaging behaviour, 2) Effects of development on damaging behaviour, and 3) Relationships between health and damaging behaviour. For the work on genetics, we focus on developing new techniques to measure relevant phenotypes (e.g. sensor technology) and investigate methods to link these sensor data to genomic data. Regarding development, the network will review the effects of parental conditions on offspring behaviour. Further, the role of incubation conditions (light, noise, temperature) and early-life environment in the development of damaging behaviour will be explored. On the relationship between health and damaging behaviour, interesting associations are found between immune responses and development of damaging behaviour, that merit further research. Here we will also focus on the complex interplay between the immune system, the HPAaxis, microbiota, gut and brain. Taken together, the network aims to provide new knowledge that can be applied to further develop production systems where laying hens with intact beaks can be optimally managed and damaging behaviour can be controlled.