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Zhao J, Duan X, Yan S, Liu Y, Wang K, Hu M, Chai Q, Liu L, Ge C, Jia J, Dou T. Transcriptomics reveals the molecular regulation of Chinese medicine formula on improving bone quality in broiler. Poult Sci 2023; 102:103044. [PMID: 37717480 PMCID: PMC10507442 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal disorder is of concern to the poultry industry as it affects animal welfare and production performance. Traditional Chinese medicine could improve bone quality and reduce the incidence of bone disease, but the molecular regulation of Chinese medicine formula (CMF) on improving bone quality in broilers is still unclear. This study was performed to research the effects of CMF on skeletal performance of Cobb broilers and reveal the molecular regulation. A total of 120 one-day-old Cobb broilers were randomly allocated into 4 equal groups of 30 chickens, with 5 replicates and 6 chickens in each replicate. The control (CON) group was fed a diet without CMF, while the CMF1, CMF2, and CMF3 groups were supplemented with different CMF at 6,000 mg/kg diet, respectively. The broilers were raised to 60 d of age, then bone tissues were collected for biomechanical properties, micro-CT detection and transcriptomic sequencing analysis. The results showed that CMF3 improved the biomechanical properties of broiler tibia, via increasing the elastic modulus (P < 0.05), yield strength (P > 0.05), maximum stress (P < 0.05) and fracture stress (P < 0.05) of the tibia. Micro-CT analysis indicated that CMF3 increased the bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), bone surface density (BS/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and decreased the trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) of femur cancellous bone (P < 0.05). RNA-seq analysis revealed 2,177 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (|log2FoldChange| ≥ 1, FDR < 0.05) between the CMF3 group and CON group. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) analysis showed 13 pathways mostly associated with bone growth and development and bone metabolism, and we identified 39 bone-related DEGs. This study suggests that CMF3 could improve bone strength and bone microstructure of broilers, and showed a positive effect on bone performance. Our research could provide a theoretical reference for the development of pollution-free feed additives to improve the skeletal performance of broilers, which could help promote healthy farming of chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Zhao
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Xiaohua Duan
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China; Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, 650500 Kunming, China
| | - Shixiong Yan
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Mei Hu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Qian Chai
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Lixian Liu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China; Yunnan Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture, 650031 Kunming, China
| | - Changrong Ge
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Junjing Jia
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China
| | - Tengfei Dou
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201 Kunming, China.
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Khan K, Kaya M, Fidan ED, Kilimci FS. Impact of litter on femur and tibial morphology, bone biomechanics, and leg health parameters in broiler chickens. Anim Biosci 2023; 36:1393-1402. [PMID: 36915925 PMCID: PMC10472162 DOI: 10.5713/ab.22.0335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study effects of three types of beddings on broiler leg health and bone biomechanics were evaluated. METHODS A total of 504 male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly placed on three beddings (4 replicates/group; 42 birds/pen), zeolite-added litter (ZL), plastic-grid flooring (PF), and wood shavings (WS). On day 42, chickens were weighed, slaughtered, and samples (bone, muscle, and drumstick) were collected. Bones were subjected to leg health tests, morphometric measurements, biomechanical testing, and ash analysis. RESULTS Broilers in PF and WS groups showed higher live weight than the ZL group (p<0.001), and the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) and varus valgus deformity due to distal bending was significantly higher in PF (p<0.001). Multinomial logistic regression showed that bedding has a significant (p = 0.038) contribution toward the development of TD. Tibial strength (p = 0.040), drumstick width (p = 0.001), and total femur and epiphyseal ash contents (p = 0.044, 0.016) were higher in the ZL group. Chicken live weight was correlated with tibial length and weight (r = 0.762, 0.725). CONCLUSION Flooring and the type of bedding material directly affect broiler bone length, strength and leg health. Plastic bedding improves the slaughter weight of chickens on the expense of leg deformities, and zeolite litter improves leg health and bone strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Khan
- Department of Basic Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (sub-campus Jhang), Lahore 35200,
Pakistan
| | - Mehmet Kaya
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09016,
Turkey
| | - Evrim Dereli Fidan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09016,
Turkey
| | - Figen Sevil Kilimci
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09016,
Turkey
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NERI ANNAAIKATERINI, GALANIS DIMITRIOS, GALANOS ANTONIS, PEPE ANGELIKIEIRINI, SOULTANIS KONSTANTINOS, ZERVAS ALEXANDROS, ZOITSIS SPYRIDON, KOURKOULIS STAVROSK, PASIOU ERMIONID, VONTZALIDOU ARGYRO, MICHAILIDIS DIMITRIS, MITAKOU SOFIA, CHRONOPOULOS EFSTATHIOS, KARAMANOLIS GEORGIOS, DONTAS ISMENEA, KARATZAS THEODORE. The Effect of Ceratonia siliqua Supplement on Bone Mineral Density in Ovariectomy-induced Osteoporosis in Rats. In Vivo 2023; 37:270-285. [PMID: 36593044 PMCID: PMC9843798 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ceratonia siliqua on bone mineral density (BMD) as a non-pharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty mature female Wistar rats were randomly separated into three groups of 10: Control, ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized-plus-C. siliqua (OVX+CS). Total and proximal BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in all groups before ovariectomy, and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. At the end of the study, the femurs were subjected to a three-point bending test. RESULTS DEXA revealed no statistically significant difference in absolute values or percentage changes for total tibial BMD between OVX+CS and OVX groups throughout the study. In the proximal tibia, both absolute values and BMD percentage changes from baseline were higher in the OVX+CS group compared to the OVX group after 3 and 6 months of C. siliqua administration. Three-point bending test revealed a significantly higher thickness index in the OVX+CS group compared to the OVX group and a higher cross-sectional area index compared to the control group. CONCLUSION Long-term administration of C. siliqua may be considered a non-pharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Further research is required to properly investigate the effects, and suitable treatment dose and schedule.
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Affiliation(s)
- ANNA AIKATERINI NERI
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - DIMITRIOS GALANIS
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - ANTONIS GALANOS
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - ANGELIKI EIRINI PEPE
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - KONSTANTINOS SOULTANIS
- First Department of Orthopaedics, Attiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - ALEXANDROS ZERVAS
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - SPYRIDON ZOITSIS
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - STAVROS K. KOURKOULIS
- Laboratory of Biomechanics and Biomedical Physics, Department of Mechanics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - ERMIONI D. PASIOU
- Laboratory of Biomechanics and Biomedical Physics, Department of Mechanics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - ARGYRO VONTZALIDOU
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - DIMITRIS MICHAILIDIS
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - SOFIA MITAKOU
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - EFSTATHIOS CHRONOPOULOS
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - GEORGIOS KARAMANOLIS
- Gastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Surgery, Aretaieio Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - ISMENE A. DONTAS
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS) “Th. Garofalidis”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - THEODORE KARATZAS
- N.S. Christeas Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece,Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Langkabel N, Oswaldi V, Merle R, Fleischhauer C, Heinke C, Alter T, Ellerboek L, Fries R, Meemken D. The microbiological and sensory status of dual-purpose chickens (Lohmann Dual), male Lohmann Brown Plus chickens, and conventional laying hens slaughtered in a laying hen abattoir compared to conventional broilers slaughtered in a broiler abattoir. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277609. [PMID: 36374923 PMCID: PMC9662725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternatives to conventional chicken meat and egg production are increasingly under discussion, especially because of the common practice of killing male day-old chicks from laying lines which has been banned from the beginning of 2022 in Germany and is planned to be banned during 2022 in other countries. Production of dual-purpose chicken lines is one possible solution, as such lines combine moderate laying and growth performance. The microbiological status of products from such breeds must be comparable to existing products on the market for food safety purposes. Additionally, the production of such products will take longer because of the feeding regimes required, and again, comparability should be safeguarded for the best consumer protection. The dual-purpose chicken line, Lohmann Dual (males), was compared to males from the laying line Lohmann Brown Plus, conventional laying hens (all slaughtered and processed in the same conventional laying hen abattoir), and conventional broilers (slaughtered in a conventional broiler abattoir). Neck skin samples were taken before chilling at the end of each slaughter line to determine the microbial status of the carcasses. Additionally, fresh and cooked meat sensory analysis was performed on meat from broilers and male and female Lohmann Dual and Lohmann Brown Plus chickens (for three carcasses of each group) at the German Agricultural Society Test Center in Kassel. The focus was on the performance of male Lohmann Dual compared to the other lines. There was no difference in the Enterobacteriaceae count of the dual-purpose chicken line compared to conventional broilers, whereas laying hens had a significantly higher microbial load before chilling, as based on neck skin examinations (p<0.001). According to sensory test results, the meat from dual-purpose chickens was the best (as no defects were found) among the five chicken meat types examined. In conclusion, based on their microbial status and sensory analysis of fresh and cooked meat, Lohmann Dual males slaughtered in a laying hen abattoir can be considered as an alternative to conventionally kept broilers slaughtered in a broiler abattoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Langkabel
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Verena Oswaldi
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Cathleen Heinke
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Alter
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Reinhard Fries
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana Meemken
- Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Magnaterra A, Mitchell R, Angel C, Khong M, McMillian Z, Snyder A, Weimer S. Research Note: Comparison of two methods to measure broiler tibia morphology. Poult Sci 2022; 102:102245. [PMID: 36335739 PMCID: PMC9646973 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The skeletal integrity of chickens is an important area of research and detailed measures are needed to better understand the influence of experimental manipulation on bone health. The objective of this experiment was to compare 2 methods to measure the superficial tibiotarsus (tibia) morphology of broiler chickens collected in the wet laboratory (WL) or from digital images (DIG). The length, width at 90%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 10% of the length, proximal and distal head width, medial, lateral, and distal intercondylar groove depth (ID), and proximal head angle were measured on the right and left tibias collected from broilers in 2 experiments (E1, E2). In both experiments, tibias had a greater width at 90% of the length when measured with the WL method compared with the DIG method (P ≤ 0.04), while tibias measured with the DIG method had a greater length, distal ID, and widths at 10%, 25%, 50%, and 75%, of the length compared with the WL method (P < 0.0001). In E1, tibias measured with the DIG method had a greater medial, lateral, and distal ID compared with the WL method (P ≤ 0.04). In E2, compared with the DIG method, tibias measured with the WL method had a greater distal head width and lateral ID, yet a shallower distal ID (P ≤ 0.03). The use of the DIG method provided more precise measures but, due to the limitations of measures from digital images and the opportunity for more accurate measures to be collected with the WL method, the WL method is recommended to measure the superficial morphology of broiler chickens because it was more accessible and practical.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Magnaterra
- Department of Animal and Avian Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | | | - C.R. Angel
- Department of Animal and Avian Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - M. Khong
- Department of Animal and Avian Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Z. McMillian
- Department of Animal and Avian Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - A. Snyder
- Department of Animal and Avian Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - S. Weimer
- Department of Animal and Avian Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA,Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA,Corresponding author:
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Reis TL, Dilelis F, Lima LDS, Silva PHFD, Soares PLDS, Calixto LFL. Correlation and path analysis of assessment methodologies of bone quality from brown egg layers at final of the production cycle. ACTA SCIENTIARUM: ANIMAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v44i1.54800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate direct and indirect correlations of methodologies of bone quality analysis from brown egg layers, at final of the production cycle. Twelve femurs of Dekalb Brown laying hens, euthanized at 85-week-old, were assessed to evaluate breaking strength (BS), Seedor index (SI), mineral matter (MM), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents, besides cortical (CorD), medullar (MedD) and epiphysis (EpiD) diameters. Correlations and path analysis were obtained with the aid of SAS® University (p ≤ 0.05). The BS directly represented the bone quality and was compared to other methodologies. Greater linear correlations occurred between BS and MM (r = 0.82), MM and Ca (r = 0.72), and BS and Ca (r = 0.70). The MM content displayed the greatest direct effect on the BS (r = 0.53). The Ca content showed a reduced direct effect on the BS (r = 0.18), with indirect effects through MM content (r = 0.44) and EpiD (r = 0.15), however, presented a great total correlation (r = 0.78). Determination of mineral matter content is the main methodology associated with femur breaking strength from brown egg layers at final of the productive cycle. Because of that, this methodology is more reliable to determine bone quality.
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Santos MN, Widowski TM, Kiarie EG, Guerin MT, Edwards AM, Torrey S. In pursuit of a better broiler: tibial morphology, breaking strength, and ash content in conventional and slower-growing strains of broiler chickens. Poult Sci 2022; 101:101755. [PMID: 35276495 PMCID: PMC8914365 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the differences in bone traits in 14 strains of broiler chickens differing in growth rate. The strains encompassed 2 conventional (CONV; ADG0-48 >60 g/d) and 12 slower-growing (SG) strains classified as FAST (ADG0-62 = 53-55 g/d), MOD (ADG0-62 = 50-51 g/d), and SLOW (ADG0-62 <50 g/d), with 4 strains represented in each SG category. A total of 7,216 mixed-sex birds were equally allocated into 164 pens (44 birds/pen; 30 kg/m2) in a randomized incomplete block design, with each strain represented in 8 to 12 pens over 2-3 trials. From each pen, 4 birds (2 males and 2 females) were individually weighed and euthanized at 2 target weights (TWs) according to their time to reach approximately 2.1 kg (TW1: 34 d for CONV and 48 d for SG strains) and 3.2 kg (TW2: 48 d for CONV and 62 d for SG strains). Tibiae samples were dissected, and length and diameter were recorded. Left tibiae were used for tibial breaking strength (TBS) at both TWs and tibial ash at TW2. At TW1, CONV birds' tibiae were narrowest and shortest (P < 0.001), yet had similar TBS compared to the other categories (P > 0.69). At TW2, category (P > 0.50) had no effect on tibial diameter, yet CONV birds had the shortest tibiae (P < 0.001). The CONV birds had greater TBS:BW ratio than FAST and MOD birds at both TWs 1 and 2 (P < 0.039) and similar ash content as the other categories at TW2 (P > 0.220). At 48 d of age, CONV birds had the greatest absolute TBS (P < 0.003), yet lower TBS:BW ratio than SLOW birds (P < 0.001). Tibiae from CONV birds were longer than MOD and SLOW birds, and thicker in diameter than the other categories, yet CONV birds had the lowest dimensions relative to BW (P < 0.001) at 48 d, indicating a negative association between accelerated growth and tibial dimensions. These results indicate that differences in functional abilities among categories may be due to differences in morphometric traits rather than differences in bone strength and mineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Midian N Santos
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Tina M Widowski
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Elijah G Kiarie
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Michele T Guerin
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - A Michelle Edwards
- Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Stephanie Torrey
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Differences in Tibia Shape in Organically Reared Chicken Lines Measured by Means of Geometric Morphometrics. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010101. [PMID: 33419135 PMCID: PMC7825553 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Organic poultry production should use only genetic lines and animals resistant to disease and well adapted to live outdoor, according to principles, rules, and requirements of organic farming systems. When broiler’s walking performance is reduced animals are not suitable for outdoor rearing. There is a straightforward relationship between bone health and growth rate in broilers. Body and breast weight play an important role in leg disorders. During the last decades, genetic selection has led to high producing broilers over the time. Unfortunately, fast growth may negatively influence correct leg development, reducing walking performance, and raising welfare issues. Leg abnormalities could represent a criterion for the choice of genetic lines suitable for organic production. A method for their early detection was developed in this study by means of Geometric Morphometrics (GM) that represents a tool for bone shape analysis and its correlation with walking capability. A valuable information emerged from the present study in relation to broiler intrinsic adaptability to organic production. Abstract In the present study, the conformation of the tibia of seven genetic lines of broilers was analyzed by Geometric Morphometrics and correlated to carcass weight and walking ability. The used chicken genetic lines were classified as fast, medium, or slow growing and ranked for their walking ability. Six chicken types were reared in an organic farm and slaughtered at 81 days of age while one slow-growing and highly walking line (Naked Neck) was reared in a commercial farm and used as external reference for moving activity and growth speed. A mixed landmarks and semi-landmarks model was applied to the study of tibia shape. Results of this study showed that: (i) body weight gain was positively correlated to the curvature of the antero-posterior axis of the tibia; (ii) the shape of the tibia and the active walking behavior were significantly correlated; (iii) walking and not-walking genetic lines could be discriminated in relation to the overall shape of the tibia; (iv) a prevalence of static behavior was correlated to a more pronounced curvature of the antero-posterior axis of the tibia. Results of this study revealed that the walking genetic types have a more functional and natural tibia conformation. This easy morphologic method for evaluating tibia shape could help to characterize the adaptability of genotypes to organic and outdoor rearing.
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