Intraobserver repeatability for a standardized protocol to quantify keel bone damage in laying hens using discrete...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Veterinary Radiology
• Avian Welfare

Background:

• Sternal carina damage (keel bone damage, KBD) is a significant welfare issue in laying hens.
• Accurate radiographic quantification of KBD severity is crucial for research into its causes and potential interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a standardized protocol for quantifying radiographic KBD severity.
• To assess the intraobserver repeatability of this protocol using open-source software.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 470 keel bone radiographs.
• Development and testing of a protocol using discrete and continuous variables.
• Intraobserver repeatability assessed via ICC and control charts.

Main Results:

• High repeatability was achieved for measuring complete cranial fractures (97.02%), incomplete cranial fractures (96.38%), complete caudal fractures (95.32%), incomplete caudal fractures (98.09%), cranial calluses (99.79%), and caudal calluses (98.09%).
• Proportion of deviation (POD) measurements showed 97.87% repeatability, and angle of displacement (AOD) measurements showed 93.60% repeatability.
• The developed protocol demonstrated acceptable intra-observer variation.

Conclusions:

• A standardized radiographic protocol for quantifying KBD in laying hens has been successfully developed and validated.
• The protocol exhibits high intraobserver repeatability, making it a reliable tool for future research.
• This quantitative method provides a foundation for further studies on KBD etiology and treatment efficacy.