Display options
Cite
Riber AB, Herskin MS, Foldager L, et al. Post-mortem examination of fast-growing broilers with different degrees of identifiable gait defects. Vet Rec. 2021;189(7):e454doi: 10.1002/vetr.454.
Riber, A. B., Herskin, M. S., Foldager, L., Sandercock, D. A., Murrell, J., & Tahamtani, F. M. (2021). Post-mortem examination of fast-growing broilers with different degrees of identifiable gait defects. The Veterinary record, 189(7), e454. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.454
Riber, Anja B, et al. "Post-mortem examination of fast-growing broilers with different degrees of identifiable gait defects." The Veterinary record vol. 189,7 (2021): e454. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.454
Riber AB, Herskin MS, Foldager L, Sandercock DA, Murrell J, Tahamtani FM. Post-mortem examination of fast-growing broilers with different degrees of identifiable gait defects. Vet Rec. 2021 Oct;189(7):e454. doi: 10.1002/vetr.454. Epub 2021 May 18. PMID: 34008173.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Vet Rec. 2021 Oct;189(7):e454. doi: 10.1002/vetr.454. Epub 2021 May 18.

Post-mortem examination of fast-growing broilers with different degrees of identifiable gait defects.

The Veterinary record

Anja B Riber, Mette S Herskin, Leslie Foldager, Dale A Sandercock, Jo Murrell, Fernanda M Tahamtani

Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
  2. Bioinformatics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
  3. Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, UK.
  4. Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
  5. Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

PMID: 34008173 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.454

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The walking ability of many broilers is characterised by slight or definite defects categorised as gait scores (GS) 1 and 2. The present study aimed to examine potential relationships between GSs and indicators of body morphology, leg pathology, tibia strength and wooden breast in Ross 308 broilers assessed as GS ≤ 2.

METHODS: At 38 days of age, GS and live body weight of 179 birds was recorded. Each bird was examined post-mortem for signs of wooden breast, contact dermatitis and a range of leg pathologies. Weights of different body parts and tibia strength were quantified.

RESULTS: Within sex, GS increased with increasing live body weight (p = 0.020). There was a tendency for an effect of GS on prevalence of footpad dermatitis (p = 0.086) and dislocated femoral joint cartilage (p = 0.059) where both pathologies increased in frequency with increasing GS. Greater load was required to fracture tibia from GS2 than GS0 birds (p = 0.040).

CONCLUSIONS: Within this relatively small data set, no strong relationships between GS ≤ 2 and indicators of body morphology, leg pathology, tibia strength and wooden breast in Ross 308 broilers were found, except for the live terminal body weight. Further studies, involving larger data sets are required for full clarification.

© 2021 British Veterinary Association.

Keywords: body composition; broiler; gait score; leg pathology; walking impairment

References

  1. Knowles TG, Kestin SC, Haslam SM, Brown SN, Green LE, Butterworth A, et al. Leg disorders in broiler chickens: prevalence, risk factors and prevention. PLoS One. 2008;3:e1545. - PubMed
  2. Louton H, Bergmann S, Reese S, Erhard M, Bachmeier J, Rösler B, et al. Animal- and management-based welfare indicators for a conventional broiler strain in 2 barn types (Louisiana barn and closed barn). Poult Sci. 2018;97:2754-67. - PubMed
  3. Tahamtani FM, Hinrichsen LK, Riber AB. Welfare assessment of conventional and organic broilers in Denmark, with emphasis on leg health. Vet Rec. 2018;183:192. - PubMed
  4. Kittelsen KE, David B, Moe RO, Poulsen HD, Young JF, Granquist EG. Associations among gait score, production data, abattoir registrations, and postmortem tibia measurements in broiler chickens. Poult Sci. 2017;96:1033-40. - PubMed
  5. Granquist EG, Vasdal G, De Jong IC, Moe RO. Lameness and its relationship with health and production measures in broiler chickens. Animal. 2019;13:2365-72. - PubMed
  6. Hothersall B, Caplen G, Parker R, Nicol C, Waterman-Pearson A, Weeks C, et al. Effects of carprofen, meloxicam and butorphanol on broiler chickens' performance in mobility tests. Anim Welf. 2016;25:55-67. - PubMed
  7. Mcgeown D, Danbury TC, Waterman-Pearson AE, Kestin SC. Effect of carprofen on lameness in broiler chickens. Vet Rec. 1999;144:668-71. - PubMed
  8. Caplen G, Hothersall B, Nicol C, Parker R, Waterman-Pearson A, Weeks C, et al. Lameness is consistently better at predicting broiler chicken performance in mobility tests than other broiler characteristics. Anim Welf. 2014;23:179-87. - PubMed
  9. Aydin A. Development of an early detection system for lameness of broilers using computer vision. Comput Electron Agric. 2017;136:140-6. - PubMed
  10. Corr SA, Gentle M, McCorquodale CC, Bennett D. The effect of morphology on walking ability in the modern broiler: a gait analysis study. Anim Welf. 2003;12:159-71. - PubMed
  11. Corr SA, Gentle MJ, McCorquodale CC, Bennett D. The effect of morphology on the muscuskeletal system of the modern broiler. Anim Welf. 2003;12:145-57. - PubMed
  12. Caplen G, Hothersall B, Murrell JC, Nicol CJ, Waterman-Pearson AE, Weeks CA, et al. Kinematic analysis quantifies gait abnormalities associated with lameness in broiler chickens and identifies evolutionary gait differences. PLoS One. 2012;7:e40800. - PubMed
  13. Skinner-Noble DO, Teeter RG. An examination of anatomic, physiologic, and metabolic factors associated with well-being of broilers differing in field gait score. Poult Sci. 2009;88:2-9. - PubMed
  14. Toscano MJ, Nasr MAF, Hothersall B. Correlation between broiler lameness and anatomical measurements of bone using radiographical projections with assessments of consistency across and within radiographs. Poult Sci. 2013;92:2251-8. - PubMed
  15. Gentle MJ. Pain in birds. Anim Welf. 1992;1:235-47. - PubMed
  16. Sandercock DA. Putative nociceptor responses to mechanical and chemical stimulation in skeletal muscles of the chicken leg. Brain Res Rev. 2004;46:155-62. - PubMed
  17. Severyn MK, Brannick EM, Bautista DA, Dekich MA. Wooden breast syndrome in gastrocnemius muscle of roaster chickens leading to muscle-tendon rupture and leg condemnation. Avian Dis. 2019;63:102-6. - PubMed
  18. Tahamtani FM, Herskin MS, Foldager L, Murrell J, Sandercock DA, Riber AB. Assessment of mobility and pain in broiler chickens with identifiable gait defects. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2021;234:105183. - PubMed
  19. Riber AB, Herskin MS, Foldager L, Berenjian A, Sandercock DA, Murrell J, et al. Are changes in behavior of fast-growing broilers with slight gait impairment (GS0-2) related to pain? Poult Sci. 2021;100:100948. - PubMed
  20. Kestin S, Knowles T, Tinch A, Gregory N. Prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chickens and its relationship with genotype. Vet Rec. 1992;131:190-4. - PubMed
  21. Landis JR, Koch GG. The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics. 1977;33:159-74. - PubMed
  22. Petracci M, Mudalal S, Soglia F, Cavani C. Meat quality in fast-growing broiler chickens. World's Poult Sci J. 2015;71:363-74. - PubMed
  23. Dalgaard LB, Rasmussen MK, Bertram HC, Jensen JA, M⊘ller HS, Aaslyng MD, et al. Classification of wooden breast myopathy in chicken pectoralis major by a standardised method and association with conventional quality assessments. Int J Food Sci Tech. 2018;53:1744-52. - PubMed
  24. Ekstrand C, Carpenter TE, Andersson I, Algers B. Prevalence and control of foot-pad dermatitis in broilers in Sweden. Br Poult Sci. 1998;39:318-24. - PubMed
  25. Sherlock L, Demmers TGM, Goodship AE, McCarthy ID, Wathes CM. The relationship between physical activity and leg health in the broiler chicken. Br Poult Sci. 2010;51:22-30. - PubMed
  26. Durairaj V, Okimoto R, Rasaputra K, Clark FD, Rath NC. Histopathology and serum clinical chemistry evaluation of broilers with femoral head separation disorder. Avian Dis. 2009;53:21-5. - PubMed
  27. Mcnamee PT, Smyth JA, Smyth JA. Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (‘femoral head necrosis‘) of broiler chickens: a review. Avian Path. 2000;29:253-70. - PubMed
  28. Bradshaw RH, Kirkden RD, Broom DM. A review of the aetiology and pathology of leg weakness in broilers in relation to welfare. Avian Poult Biol Rev. 2002;13:45-103. - PubMed
  29. Tablante NL, Estevez I, Russek-Cohen E. Effect of perches and stocking density on tibial dyschondroplasia and bone mineralization as measured by bone ash in broiler chickens. J Appl Poult Res. 2003;12:53-9. - PubMed
  30. Julian RJ. Rapid growth problems: ascites and skeletal deformities in broilers. Poult Sci. 1998;77:1773-80. - PubMed
  31. Julian RJ. Valgus-varus deformity of the intertarsal joint in broiler chickens. Canadian Vet J. 1984;25:254-58. - PubMed
  32. Paxton H, Daley MA, Corr SA, Hutchinson JR. The gait dynamics of the modern broiler chicken: a cautionary tale of selective breeding. J Exp Biol. 2013;216:3237-48. - PubMed
  33. Berri C, Le Bihan-Duval E, Debut M, Santé-Lhoutellier V, Baéza E, Gigaud V, et al. Consequence of muscle hypertrophy on characteristics of Pectoralis major muscle and breast meat quality of broiler chickens. J Anim Sci. 2007;85:2005-11. - PubMed
  34. Kestin SC, Gordon S, Su G, S⊘rensen P. Relationships in broiler chickens between lameness, liveweight, growth rate and age. Vet Rec. 2001;148:195-7. - PubMed
  35. S⊘rensen P, Su G, Kestin SC. Effects of age and stocking density on leg weakness in broiler chickens. Poult Sci. 2000;79:864-70. - PubMed
  36. Angel R. Metabolic disorders: limitations to growth of and mineral deposition into the broiler skeleton after hatch and potential implications for leg problems. J Appl Poult Res. 2007;16:138-49. - PubMed
  37. Pompeu MA, Barbosa VM, Martins NRS, Baião NC, Lara LJC, Rocha JSR, et al. Nutritional aspects related to non-infectious diseases in locomotor system of broilers. World's Poult Sci J. 2019;68:669-78. - PubMed
  38. Sorensen P, Su G, Kestin SC. The effect of photoperiod: scotoperiod on leg weakness in broiler chickens. Poult Sci. 1999;78:336-42. - PubMed
  39. Aydin A. The relationship between some physiological and morphological factors and the lameness of broiler chickens. Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Univ J Nat Sci. 2016;19:249-55. - PubMed
  40. Nääs IA, Paz ICLA, Baracho MS, Menezes AG, Bueno LGF, Almeida ICL, et al. Impact of lameness on broiler well-being. J Appl Poult Res. 2009;18:432-9. - PubMed
  41. Rath NC, Huff GR, Huff WE, Balog JM. Factors regulating bone maturity and strength in poultry. Poult Sci. 2000;79:1024-32. - PubMed
  42. Rath NC, Balog JM, Huff WE, Huff GR, Kulkarni GB, Tierce JF Comparative differences in the composition and biomechanical properties of tibiae of seven- and seventy-two-week-old male and female broiler breeder chickens. Poult Sci. 1999;78:1232-9. - PubMed
  43. Brickett KE, Dahiya JP, Classen HL, Annett CB, Gomis S. The impact of nutrient density, feed form, and photoperiod on the walking ability and skeletal quality of broiler chickens. Poult Sci. 2007;86:2117-25. - PubMed
  44. Packialakshmi B, Rath NC, Huff WE, Huff GR. Poultry femoral head separation and necrosis: a review. Avian Dis. 2015;59:349-54. - PubMed
  45. European Commission. The welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers). Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare. Brussels, Belgium: European Commission; 2000. - PubMed
  46. De Jong IC, Gunnink H, Van Harn J. Wet litter not only induces footpad dermatitis but also reduces overall welfare, technical performance, and carcass yield in broiler chickens. J Appl Poult Res. 2014;23:51-8. - PubMed
  47. Tullo E, Fontana I, Peña Fernandez A, Vranken E, Norton T, Berckmans D, et al. Association between environmental predisposing risk factors and leg disorders in broiler chickens. J Anim Sci. 2017;95:1512-20. - PubMed
  48. Sandilands V, Brocklehurst S, Sparks N, Baker L, Mcgovern R, Thorp B, et al. Assessing leg health in chickens using a force plate and gait scoring: how many birds is enough? Vet Rec. 2011;168:77. - PubMed
  49. Mcnamee PT, Mccullagh JJ, Thorp BH, Ball HJ, Graham D, Mccullough SJ, et al. Study of leg weakness in two commercial broiler flocks. Vet Rec. 1998;143:131-5. - PubMed
  50. Fernandes BCDS, Martins MRFB, Mendes AA, Paz ICDLA, Komiyama CM, Milbradt EL, et al. Locomotion problems of broiler chickens and its relationship with the gait score. Revista Brasileira De Zootecnia. 2012;41:1951-5. - PubMed
  51. Paxton H, Tickle PG, Rankin JW, Codd JR, Hutchinson JR Anatomical and biomechanical traits of broiler chickens across ontogeny. Part II. Body segment inertial properties and muscle architecture of the pelvic limb. PeerJ. 2014;2:e473. - PubMed
  52. Macrae VE, Mahon M, Gilpin S, Sandercock DA, Mitchell MA Skeletal muscle fibre growth and growth associated myopathy in the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus). Br Poult Sci. 2006;47:264-72. - PubMed

Publication Types