Development of practical measures of hen welfare

The aim of the project is to develop a reliable and repeatable methodology for the prediction of animal welfare for the industry to assist in engaging with the broader community on the contentious issue of animal welfare within the poultry sector. The objectives of this project are to enhance the use of microRNAs as a measure of poultry welfare. The two aims are to: Further develop an existing stress assay so that it can be applied non-invasively using eggs as the source of the microRNAs, and Identify microRNAs that can identify negative and positive affective (emotional) states in layer chicken.