In the field of animal welfare, the main
challenges for breeders are to adapt laying hens
to alternative management systems – for example,
to reduce feather pecking and cannibalism in
non-cage systems (pecking and cannibalism are
also serious problems for turkeys and waterfowl),
and to reduce the incidence of cardio-vascular
insufficiencies (sudden death syndrome and
ascites) and leg problems in broilers and turkeys.
However, the causes of these problems are
probably multifactorial, and further research is
required.