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Evaluating portable wire-flooring models for inducing bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis in broilers
A D Gilley1, H Lester2, I Y Pevzner3
1Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701 agilley@uark.edu.
Poultry Science
|June 1, 2014
Summary
Introducing speed bumps (SB) in broiler litter can trigger lameness from bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO). Modifying SB design and timing did not significantly increase BCO incidence compared to standard SB, but wire flooring remained the highest lameness trigger.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Poultry Science
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Lameness in broilers, often due to bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), is a significant welfare and economic concern.
- Wire flooring and portable speed bumps (SB) are known methods to experimentally induce BCO in broilers.
- Optimizing methods to reliably trigger BCO is crucial for research into prevention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the optimal age for introducing speed bumps (SB) into broiler litter pens to induce BCO.
- To evaluate alternative SB configurations for enhanced mechanical leg challenges and increased BCO incidence.
- To compare BCO incidence across different flooring types and SB modifications.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments involved rearing broiler chicks on various floor treatments, including litter, wire flooring, and litter with SB introduced at different ages or with modified designs.
- Broilers were provided ad libitum feed and water with a 23L:1D photoperiod.
- Lameness incidence, attributed to BCO, was recorded and analyzed across treatments and broiler lines.
Main Results:
- Wire flooring consistently resulted in the highest lameness incidence (21-39%).
- Introducing SB at 14, 28, or 42 days of age on litter flooring resulted in intermediate lameness (12-23%), with no significant difference based on introduction age.
- Modified SB designs, including varying slopes and added features like limbo bars or water lines, did not significantly increase BCO incidence compared to standard SB, though a pagoda-top SB showed a trend towards lower incidence.
Conclusions:
- Portable speed bumps (SB) are effective tools for experimentally inducing bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) in broilers reared on litter flooring.
- The age of SB introduction (14, 28, or 42 days) did not significantly alter BCO incidence.
- Modifications to SB design did not consistently amplify mechanical challenges to increase BCO incidence, suggesting standard SB on litter is a reliable method for BCO induction in research settings.
