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Morphometric and radiographic characterization of leg disorders in broiler chickens

University of British Columbia

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cage density and excess vitamin D₃ on the incidence and severity of leg abnormalities in broiler chickens. In addition, sequential morphometric and radiographic characteristics of leg bone development were described in normal and abnormal broilers in an attempt to develop a pattern recognition for leg abnormalities in poultry. Twisted leg, characterized by a progressive medial (varus) or lateral (valgus) deviation of the distal tibiae was the predominant leg abnormality observed. Lateral deviations were more common than medial deviations (92% and 8%, repectively) and it occurred equally on the right and left leg. The incidence of twisted leg was considerably higher in cages than on litter (21% vs 4%, respectively). High density and excess dietary vitamin D₃ resulted in a significant increase in the incidence of twisted leg. Differences in incidence could not be explained through differences in body weight or feed consumption. However, broilers fed the excess vitamin D₃ consumed more but gained less body weight, suggesting a metabolic stress may have been involved. High density appeared to increase the severity of the disorders, while excess vitamin D₃ had no effect on severity. Morphometric and radiographic comparisons of tibiae from normal broilers and those with twisted leg suggested that the development of twisted leg may be related to a structural abnormality in the distal tibiae; namely shallow distal condyle grooves. Changes in tibiae morphology associated with the progression of the disorder appeared as functional adaptations to the deformation rather than the primary cause of the bone deviations themselves. Sequential radiography of tibae from clinically normal broilers revealed a high incidence of tibial dyschondro-plasia in the proximal metaphyses at 3, 4 and 5 weeks (60%, 20% and 20%, respectively). It was concluded that tibial dyschondroplasia may be more common than it is realized.

Text

2010-05-11

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/24601

Food Science

University of British Columbia

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