Evidence-based science sits at the heart of fai's work. Research activity focuses on the evaluation and development of farming and food production systems within the 3E framework.
Published research and case studies are available from the farming library publications section.
Chicken Genetics
Nearly 900 million meat chickens are processed each week around the world. We believe it is important to breed birds that have both high welfare potential and good commercially traits.
This five year project started in 2007 and was originally funded by the Tubney Charitable Trust. It aims to develop and test a genetic selection process that maximises efficient chicken meat production without sacrificing bird welfare.
Tails on Pigs
This on-going project has explored the interaction between housing, bedding materials, feed and management and has developed a pig production model that operates without the need for teeth clipping and tail docking. This model is currently being validated with integrated, commercial pig producers.
Cattle
Paddock finishing unit
The 500 animal unit – developed by fai-Brazil and the animal welfare research group ETCO (www.grupoetco.org.br) – provides 50m2 per animal and has mobile troughs, fences and drinkers allowing more flexible use of the land than traditional cattle finishing units. Animals graze pasture, which benefits rumen health and is cheaper than grain and the lower stocking density reduces the risk of soil degradation and water runoff.
Polled Breeding herd
A breeding herd of 100 Nelore with which we are working in partnership with ANCP (www.ancp.org.br) to develop high genetics, polled animals.
Small/low cost handling corral
A small/low cost handling corral has been developed by fai Brazil and the animal welfare research group ETCO (www.grupoetco.org.br). The small/low cost corral allows for a constant flow of animals and can be used in addition to main handling facilities. The corral is based on curved design by Dr Temple Grandin (www.grandin.com), but adapted for Brazilian conditions and able to be built on a low budget. Combined with good handling practices, the small/low cost corral can reduce maintenance costs and improve welfare.
Poultry
In partnership with Korin® (www.korin.com.br), fai Brazil has developed a 4,000 free range broiler system. The house is a standard broiler house design of 400m2 and 1.6ha free range area. The range is divided into four parts used in rotation and the remainder of the range rested and used to grow crops or for sheep grazing i.e. multiple food production uses from a single area of land.
The practical experience, costs of production and expertise developed through these R and D projects are passed on to other farmers, industry and food retailers through the bi-monthly training courses run at the fai Brazil farm.
Optical flow
Optical flow is an automated way of assessing chicken welfare on farm which
gives continuous information throughout life. FAI is one of the poultry
sites where the technology has been developed. More...
PINE
Poultry in natural environments was set up in 2003 at FAI. The project
documented the benefits of trees to chickens and the information has since
been taken up by commercial companies to improve the welfare of their birds
and the productivity of the system. More...