Prevention of foot lesions in broiler breeder hens kept in individual cages

Individually-caged broiler breeder hens were fed allowances of 1.88, 1.61, 1.32 or 1.13 MJ apparent metabolisable energy (AME) per bird d at four different protein intakes (27, 23, 19.5 or 16.5 g crude protein per bird d) from 21 to 60 weeks of age. A system of foot scoring was used to assess the extent and severity of foot damage. Damage increased as energy intake increased but protein intake had little effect on foot condition. Cushion floors or perches introduced into the cages at 27 weeks of age reduced the deterioration in foot condition observed on all dietary treatments during lay. Egg output was not affected by foot condition although severe foot damage was observed in several cases.