Animal welfare assessment protocol for quails reared for meat production

The main welfare issues found on all farms were a lack of temperature and humidity records, a poor lighting pattern, and the absence of an outdoor range or access to one. To a lesser degree, it was also found that there were excessive numbers of birds per feeder, the presence of improperly functioning drinkers (i.e., not working, inadequate water flow, or dripping water), poor litter quality, and a high prevalence of birds with dirty plumage and lameness. Despite this, the farms achieved a good overall score, being classified as "enhanced" (<i>n</i> = 11) and "acceptable" (<i>n</i> = 3). The tool proved helpful in identifying specific welfare issues at the farm level and conducting benchmarking.