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Yang Q, Liu H, Xi Y, Lu Y, Han X, He X, Qi J, Zhu Y, He H, Wang J, Hu J, Li L. Genome-wide association study for bone quality of ducks during the laying period. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103575. [PMID: 38447311 PMCID: PMC11067773 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The cage-rearing model of the modern poultry industry makes the bones of birds, especially egg-laying birds, more vulnerable to fracture, which poses serious damage to the health of birds. Research confirms that genetic material plays an important role in regulating bone growth, development, and remodeling. However, the genetic architecture underlying bone traits is not well understood. The objectives of this study are to identify valuable genes and genetic markers through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for breeding to improve the duck bone quality. First, we quantified the tibia and femur quality traits of 260 laying ducks. Based on GWAS, a total of 75 SNP loci significantly associated with bone quality traits were identified, and 67 potential candidate genes were annotated. According to gene function analysis, genes P4HA2, WNT3A, and BST1 et al may influence bone quality by regulating bone cell activity, calcium and phosphate metabolism, or bone collagen maturation and cross-linking. Meanwhile, combined with the transcriptome results, we found that HOXB cluster genes are also important in bone growth and development. Therefore, our findings were helpful in further understanding the genetic architecture of the duck bone quality and provided a worthy theoretical basis and technological support to improve duck bone quality by breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Hehe Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Yang Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Yinjuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Xu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Xinxin He
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Jingjing Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Yuanchun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Hua He
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Jiwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Jiwei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China
| | - Liang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 613000, China.
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Yue Q, Chen Y, Chen H, Zhou R. Transcriptome profile reveals novel candidate genes associated with bone strength in end-of-lay hens. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:3099-3107. [PMID: 36309812 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2022.2134884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Bone weakness causes many problems such as osteoporosis, bone fractures, and economic loss, especially at the late stage of lay, in laying hen production. However, the genetic factors and molecular mechanism affecting the bone strength is still largely unknown. To elucidate the molecular mechanism and genetic factors affecting bone strength, a total of six cDNA libraries were constructed and used to compare genetic differences between tibia with higher(Group HBS)and lower(Group LBS)breaking strength in Hyline grey layers. A comparison between Groups HBS and LBS revealed nine differentially expressed genes, of which five were upregulated and four were downregulated in the LBS relative to the HBS in tibia. Our results showed novel candidate genes concerned with bone strength in the late laying period. These include transcription factor paired box protein Pax-5 (Pax5), tissue inhibitor of Metallopoteinase-4 (TIMP4), Kelch-like protein 14 (KLHL14), predicted MAGUK p55 subfamily member 7 isoform X4 (MPP7) and Osteoclast-associated Ig-like receptor (OSCAR). Our data provide a vital resource for discovering important candidate genes associated with bone strength and will help further study the molecular mechanisms for bone remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoxian Yue
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Ye Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Hui Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Rongyan Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
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3
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van Staaveren N, Tobalske BW, Brost J, Sharma R, Beaufrère H, Elias A, Harlander-Matauschek A. Biomechanics of landing in injured and uninjured chickens and the role of meloxicam. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102794. [PMID: 37307632 PMCID: PMC10276282 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102794] [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: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Birds use their legs and wings when transitioning from aerial to ground locomotion during landing. To improve our understanding of the effects of footpad dermatitis (FPD) and keel bone fracture (KBF) upon landing biomechanics in laying hens, we measured ground-reaction forces generated by hens (n = 37) as they landed on force plates (Bertec Corporation, Columbus, OH) from a 30 cm drop or 170 cm jump in a single-blinded placebo-controlled trial using a cross-over design where birds received an anti-inflammatory (meloxicam, 5 mg/kg body mass) or placebo treatment beforehand. We used generalized linear mixed models to test for effects of health status, treatment and their interaction on landing velocity (m/s), maximum resultant force (N), and impulse (force integrated with respect to time [N s]). Birds with FPD and KBF tended to show divergent alterations to their landing biomechanics when landing from a 30 cm drop, with a higher landing velocity and maximum force in KBF compared to FPD birds, potentially indicative of efforts to either reduce the use of their wings or impacts on inflamed footpads. In contrast, at 170 cm jumps fewer differences between birds of different health statuses were observed likely due to laying hens being poor flyers already at their maximum power output. Our results indicate that orthopedic injuries, apart from being welfare issues on their own, may have subtle influences on bird mobility through altered landing biomechanics that should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke van Staaveren
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bret W Tobalske
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Jacob Brost
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rahul Sharma
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hugues Beaufrère
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Audrey Elias
- School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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Bayer E, von Meyer-Höfer M, Kühl S. Hotspot analysis for organic laying hen husbandry—identification of sustainability problems as potential risk points to lose consumers’ trust. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE 2023. [PMCID: PMC10043833 DOI: 10.1007/s13165-023-00426-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, there has been growing societal concern about the welfare of farmed animals. Although organic agriculture provides higher living standards, there are still critical points which can damage consumers’ trust in organic livestock farming. That is a risk, as especially organic farming relies on consumer trust. A hotspot analysis was conducted to identify critical points within the organic laying hen husbandry in Germany. This methodology aims to examine the sustainability of a product along its whole life cycle. Based on literature reviews, the life phases breeding, keeping, feeding, animal health, transport, and slaughter were assessed with ecological, social, and animal welfare criteria. Finally, the results were triangulated with various experts, and the critical points were classified in terms of their potential to diverge from consumers’ expectations. Our results show a high dependency of the organic sector on the conventional breeding process and its specialized breeds. This fact involves critical points which contradict the ideology of organic farming. The loopholes in the organic EU regulations in transport and slaughter were identified as additional threats to consumer trust in the organic system. The overall not better animal health compared to the conventional poultry system and the high numbers of poultry kept on some organic farms are also possible causes of disappointment in consumers’ vision of organic livestock farming. Therefore, we recommend an adjustment of some organic EU regulations regarding these points. Further, a linkage of the organic certification of a slaughterhouse to higher animal welfare standards during slaughter should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bayer
- grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Marketing for Food and Agricultural Products, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 5, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Sarah Kühl
- grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Marketing for Food and Agricultural Products, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 5, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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5
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Improve the Accuracy of Chicken Leg Disease Assessment by Combination of Gait Score and X-ray Scan. J APPL POULTRY RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2023.100339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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Farm Environmental Enrichments Improve the Welfare of Layer Chicks and Pullets: A Comprehensive Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192610. [PMID: 36230351 PMCID: PMC9559498 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, cage housing is regarded as a global mainstream production system for laying hens. However, limited living space and confinement of birds in cages cause welfare and health problems, such as feather pecking, osteoporosis, obesity, and premature aging. Many studies have been conducted to alleviate layer welfare problems by providing farm environmental enrichments such as litter, sand, alfalfa bales, chick papers, pecking stones, pecking strings, perches, slopes, elevated platforms, aviaries and outdoor access with a trend towards complex enrichments. The provision of appropriate enrichments continuously attracts layers towards pecking, foraging, dust bathing, and locomotion, thereby giving lifelong benefits to laying hens. Hence, raising chicks and pullets under such conditions may reduce feather and skin damage, as well as accumulation of abdominal fat, and improve several biological features such as health, productivity, quality products, and docility of laying hens. Therefore, providing enrichment during the first few days of the layer’s life without any interruption is crucial. In addition, due to different farm conditions, environmental enrichment should be managed by well-trained farm staff. For example, in preventing feather pecking among the birds, litter materials for foraging are superior to dust bath materials or new items. However, a limited supply of litter creates competition and challenges among birds. Therefore, providing farm environmental enrichment for layers requires proper handling, especially in commercial layer farms. Hence, improving the welfare of chicks and pullets through optimizing on-farm environmental enrichments is essential for production systems practicing cage housing.
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Garant R, Tobalske BW, Sassi NB, van Staaveren N, Widowski T, Powers DR, Harlander-Matauschek A. Wing-feather loss in white-feathered laying hens decreases pectoralis thickness but does not increase risk of keel bone fracture. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220155. [PMID: 35719889 PMCID: PMC9198519 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Feather loss in domestic chickens can occur due to wear and tear, disease or bird-to-bird pecking. Flight feather loss may decrease wing use, cause pectoral muscle loss and adversely impact the keel bone to which these muscles anchor. Feather loss and muscle weakness are hypothesized risk factors for keel bone fractures that are reported in up to 98% of chickens. We used ultrasound to measure changes in pectoral muscle thickness and X-rays to assess keel bone fracture prevalence following symmetric clipping of primary and secondary feathers in white- and brown-feathered birds. Four and six weeks after flight feather clipping, pectoralis thickness decreased by approximately 5%, while lower leg thickness increased by approximately 5% in white-feathered birds. This pectoralis thickness decrease may reflect wing disuse followed by muscle atrophy, while the increased leg thickness may reflect increased bipedal locomotion. The lack of effect on muscle thickness in brown-feathered hens was probably due to their decreased tendency for aerial locomotion. Finally, pectoralis thickness was not associated with keel bone fractures in either white- or brown-feathered birds. This suggests that the white-feathered strain was more sensitive to feather loss. Future prevention strategies should focus on birds most susceptible to muscle loss associated with flight feather damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Garant
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Bret W. Tobalske
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Neila Ben Sassi
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Nienke van Staaveren
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Tina Widowski
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Donald R. Powers
- Department of Biology, George Fox University, 414N Meridian Street, Newberg, OR 97132, USA
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Herrera-Castillo CM, Geiger M, Núñez-León D, Nagashima H, Gebhardt-Henrich S, Toscano M, Sanchez-Villagra MR. Skeletal variation in bird domestication: limb proportions and sternum in chicken, with comparisons to mallard ducks and Muscovy ducks. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13229. [PMID: 35502208 PMCID: PMC9055999 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13229] [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: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Domestication, including selective breeding, can lead to morphological changes of biomechanical relevance. In birds, limb proportions and sternum characteristics are of great importance and have been studied in the past for their relation with flight, terrestrial locomotion and animal welfare. In this work we studied the effects of domestication and breed formation in limb proportions and sternum characteristics in chicken (Gallus gallus), mallard ducks (Anas plathyrhynchos) and Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata). Methods First, we quantified the proportional length of three long bones of the forelimb (humerus, radius, and carpometacarpus) and the hind limb (femur, tibiotarsus, and tarsometatarsus) in domestic chickens, mallard ducks, and Muscovy ducks and their wild counterparts. For this, we took linear measurements of these bones and compared their proportions in the wild vs. the domestic group in each species. In chicken, these comparisons could also be conducted among different breeds. We then evaluated the proportional differences in the context of static and ontogenetic allometry. Further, we compared discrete sternum characteristics in red jungle fowl and chicken breeds. In total, we examined limb bones of 287 specimens and keel bones of 63 specimens. Results We found a lack of significant change in the proportions of limb bones of chicken and Muscovy duck due to domestication, but significant differences in the case of mallard ducks. Variation of evolvability, allometric scaling, and heterochrony may serve to describe some of the patterns of change we report. Flight capacity loss in mallard ducks resulting from domestication may have a relation with the difference in limb proportions. The lack of variation in proportions that could distinguish domestic from wild forms of chicken and Muscovy ducks may reflect no selection for flight capacity during the domestication process in these groups. In chicken, some of the differences identified in the traits discussed are breed-dependent. The study of the sternum revealed that the condition of crooked keel was not unique to domestic chicken, that some sternal characteristics were more frequent in certain chicken breeds than in others, and that overall there were no keel characteristics that are unique for certain chicken breeds. Despite some similar morphological changes identified across species, this study highlights the lack of universal patterns in domestication and breed formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madeleine Geiger
- Palaeontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Núñez-León
- Palaeontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hiroshi Nagashima
- Division of Gross Anatomy and Morphogenesis, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Sabine Gebhardt-Henrich
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Animal Welfare Division, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Toscano
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Animal Welfare Division, Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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The Welfare Status of Hens in Different Housing Systems – A Review. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2021-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The currently used poultry farming methods, which aim to maximise economic profit, are based on ever new technological solutions that improve flock management and increase bird performance. However, they do not always meet the natural needs of birds. Every housing method and technological solution currently in use is faced with some issues, such as social stress, adverse temperature/ humidity conditions, risk of zoonoses, and behavioural pathologies, which determine poultry performance and welfare. Disregard for animal welfare involves not only ethical but also practical aspects, because well-being and housing comfort translate into better weight gains, health and productivity of the birds. The studies reported here suggest that every production system, despite the many welfare-improving aspects, causes numerous behavioural, productivity and health abnormalities in laying hens. Therefore, further research is needed to identify various risk factors for the purpose of improving housing systems and increasing the welfare of hens.
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León BM, Tobalske BW, Sassi NB, Garant R, Powers DR, Harlander-Matauschek A. Domestic egg-laying hens, Gallus gallus domesticus, do not modulate flapping flight performance in response to wing condition. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210196. [PMID: 34350016 PMCID: PMC8316787 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Wild birds modulate wing and whole-body kinematics to adjust their flight patterns and trajectories when wing loading increases flight power requirements. Domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in backyards and farms exhibit feather loss, naturally high wing loading, and limited flight capabilities. Yet, housing chickens in aviaries requires birds to navigate three-dimensional spaces to access resources. To understand the impact of feather loss on laying hens' flight capabilities, we symmetrically clipped the primary and secondary feathers before measuring wing and whole-body kinematics during descent from a 1.5 m platform. We expected birds to compensate for increased wing loading by increasing wingbeat frequency, amplitude and angular velocity. Otherwise, we expected to observe an increase in descent velocity and angle and an increase in vertical acceleration. Feather clipping had a significant effect on descent velocity, descent angle and horizontal acceleration. Half-clipped hens had lower descent velocity and angle than full-clipped hens, and unclipped hens had the highest horizontal acceleration. All hens landed with a velocity two to three times greater than in bird species that are adept fliers. Our results suggest that intact laying hens operate at the maximal power output supported by their anatomy and are at the limit of their ability to control flight trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna M. León
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Bret W. Tobalske
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Neila Ben Sassi
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Renée Garant
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Donald R. Powers
- Department of Biology, George Fox University, 414 N Meridian Street, Newberg, OR 97132, USA
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Habig C, Henning M, Baulain U, Jansen S, Scholz AM, Weigend S. Keel Bone Damage in Laying Hens-Its Relation to Bone Mineral Density, Body Growth Rate and Laying Performance. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1546. [PMID: 34070496 PMCID: PMC8228274 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Keel bone damage is an important animal welfare problem in laying hens. Two generations of four layer lines, differing in phylogenetic background and performance level and kept in single cages or floor pens were weighed and scored for keel bone deformities (KBD) during the laying period. KBD, keel bone fractures (KBF) and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the keels were assessed post mortem. For BMD, relationships to laying performance and body growth were estimated. Caged hens showed more deformities, but fewer fractures and a lower BMD of the keel bone than floor-housed hens. White-egg layers had a lower BMD (0.140-0.165 g/cm2) and more KBD than brown-egg layers (0.179-0.184 g/cm2). KBF occurred more often in the high-performing lines than the moderate-performing ones. However, in the high-performing lines, BMD was positively related to total egg number from 18 to 29 weeks of age. The adult body weight derived from fitted growth curves (Gompertz function) had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on keels' BMD. The study contributes to the understanding of predisposing factors for keel bone damage in laying hens. It showed that the growth rate has a rather subordinate effect on keels' BMD, while the BMD itself greatly affects KBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Habig
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 31535 Neustadt, Germany; (M.H.); (U.B.); (S.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Martina Henning
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 31535 Neustadt, Germany; (M.H.); (U.B.); (S.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Ulrich Baulain
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 31535 Neustadt, Germany; (M.H.); (U.B.); (S.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Simon Jansen
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 31535 Neustadt, Germany; (M.H.); (U.B.); (S.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Armin Manfred Scholz
- Livestock Center of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany;
| | - Steffen Weigend
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 31535 Neustadt, Germany; (M.H.); (U.B.); (S.J.); (S.W.)
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Alfonso-Carrillo C, Benavides-Reyes C, de los Mozos J, Dominguez-Gasca N, Sanchez-Rodríguez E, Garcia-Ruiz AI, Rodriguez-Navarro AB. Relationship between Bone Quality, Egg Production and Eggshell Quality in Laying Hens at the End of an Extended Production Cycle (105 Weeks). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:623. [PMID: 33652961 PMCID: PMC7996911 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Nowadays the industry aims to improve lay persistency for extended cycles (100 weeks or longer) to make egg production more sustainable. However, intensive egg production challenges hen health, inducing severe osteoporosis and the incidence of bone fractures. In this study, the relationship between bone quality and egg production, and/or eggshell quality, was evaluated at the end of an extended laying cycle of 100 weeks, comparing groups of hens with different production and eggshell quality parameters; (2) Methods: Quality parameters of egg (as weight, egg white height), eggshell (as thickness, weight, breaking strength, elasticity and microstructure) and tibiae bone (weight, diameter, cortical thickness, ash weight, breaking strength, medullary bone) were determined; (3) Results: Hens from groups with a high egg production and good eggshell quality have poorer bone quality (lower ash weight and lesser amount of medullary bone). However, Pearson's correlation analysis shows no clear relationship between bone and egg/eggshell parameters. (4) Conclusions: Bone and egg production/eggshell quality are independent and can be improved separately. Medullary bone has an important contribution to bone mechanical properties, being important to accumulate enough bone medullary bone early in life to maintain skeletal integrity and eggshell quality in old hens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Alfonso-Carrillo
- Trouw Nutrition R&D, Ctra. CM 4004, km 10.5, Casarrubios del Monte, 45950 Toledo, Spain; (C.A.-C.); (J.d.l.M.)
| | - Cristina Benavides-Reyes
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Universidad de Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain; (C.B.-R.); (N.D.-G.); (E.S.-R.)
| | - Jon de los Mozos
- Trouw Nutrition R&D, Ctra. CM 4004, km 10.5, Casarrubios del Monte, 45950 Toledo, Spain; (C.A.-C.); (J.d.l.M.)
| | - Nazaret Dominguez-Gasca
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Universidad de Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain; (C.B.-R.); (N.D.-G.); (E.S.-R.)
| | - Estefanía Sanchez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Universidad de Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain; (C.B.-R.); (N.D.-G.); (E.S.-R.)
| | - Ana Isabel Garcia-Ruiz
- Trouw Nutrition R&D, Ctra. CM 4004, km 10.5, Casarrubios del Monte, 45950 Toledo, Spain; (C.A.-C.); (J.d.l.M.)
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13
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Campbell DLM. Skeletal health of layers across all housing systems and future research directions for Australia. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/an19578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Modern laying hens have been selected for an astounding rate of egg production, but the physiological calcium demand takes a significant toll on their skeletal health. Bones can be assessed both in vivo and ex vivo, using a combination of different structural and mechanical analysis methods. Typically, the properties of leg, wing and keel bones are measured. Conventional caged layers are restricted in movement, which imbalances structural bone resorption and new bone formation, resulting in osteoporosis. Hens within alternative housing systems have opportunities to exercise for strengthening bones, but they can also suffer from higher rates of keel fractures and/or deviations that are likely to have resulted from collisions or pressure force. Limited research has been conducted within Australian commercial housing systems to assess hen skeletal health, including prevalence of keel damage across different system types. Research conducted on both brown and white hen strains approximately within the past decade internationally (2009 onward) has shown that skeletal health is impaired across all housing systems. Keel-bone damage is of specific concern as it occurs at high rates, particularly in multi-tiered systems, is painful, can alter hen behaviour, and reduce both production and egg quality. Management strategies such as the provision of ramps to access perches and tiers can reduce the incidence of keel-bone damage to a degree. Bone strength can be improved through exercise opportunities, particularly when available during pullet rearing. Genetic selection for high bone strength may be necessary for hens to adequately adapt to loose-housed systems, but the best strategy for improving skeletal health is likely to be multifactorial.
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14
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Genetic variation of keel and long bone skeletal properties for 5 lines of laying hens. J APPL POULTRY RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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15
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Kittelsen KE, Moe RO, Hansen TB, Toftaker I, Christensen JP, Vasdal G. A Descriptive Study of Keel Bone Fractures in Hens and Roosters from Four Non-Commercial Laying Breeds Housed in Furnished Cages. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10112192. [PMID: 33238563 PMCID: PMC7700571 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of keel bone fractures (KBF) in laying hens has been documented and discussed by several authors, nevertheless the causative factors behind KBF remain uncertain. High prevalence of KBF have been reported in all commercial egg production systems, in different genetic lines and at different ages. Several of the proposed causal mechanisms behind KBF are linked to selection for efficient production. It is, therefore, of interest to explore whether less selected breeds have a lower occurrence of keel bone fractures compared to reports from highly selected, modern laying hen breeds. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate keel bones of hens from four non-commercial layer breeds. Birds were housed in furnished cages and keel bones examined at 30 and 63 weeks of age, using a portable X-ray equipment. The results from this descriptive study indicate a low prevalence of KBF at both ages in all four breeds, with only five KBF detected in 213 X-ray pictures taken from 126 birds. Of these, four of the KBF were observed in the most genetically selected breed, with an early onset of lay. None of the roosters examined exhibited KBF. The overall low numbers of KBF found indicate that genetic factors may be involved in KBF and, thus that selective breeding may help to reduce the susceptibility to KBF. Finally, this study highlights the importance of poultry conservation to secure genetic diversity, which may be an important resource in future selection schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Käthe Elise Kittelsen
- Animalia—The Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, Lorenveien 38, NO-0585 Oslo, Norway; (T.B.H.); (G.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +47-906-05027
| | - Randi Oppermann Moe
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, NMBU—Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 8146 dep., NO-0033 Oslo, Norway; (R.O.M.); (I.T.)
| | - Tone Beate Hansen
- Animalia—The Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, Lorenveien 38, NO-0585 Oslo, Norway; (T.B.H.); (G.V.)
| | - Ingrid Toftaker
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, NMBU—Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 8146 dep., NO-0033 Oslo, Norway; (R.O.M.); (I.T.)
| | - Jens Peter Christensen
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Guro Vasdal
- Animalia—The Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, Lorenveien 38, NO-0585 Oslo, Norway; (T.B.H.); (G.V.)
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16
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Angelovičová M, Angelovič M, Zeleňáková L. Research of selected physical indicators of table eggs in the small-scale breedings from the aspect of health safety. POTRAVINARSTVO 2020. [DOI: 10.5219/1357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate selected indicators of the table eggs in small-scale breedings, focusing mainly on the eggshell and its contamination and damage. Our object of study was eggs, shell, damage, and contamination of table eggs. Four small-scale breedings were randomly selected in Slovakia. These breeds were alternatively with an outdoor free-range. Laying hens Dominant was bred under conditions small-scale breeds No.1, No. 2 and No. 3 in the 1st laying cycle, and No. 4 in the 2nd laying cycle. Egg weight was balanced in three small-scale breedings. Egg weight was significantly higher in the fourth small-scale breeding, statistically significant (p <0.05) compared to egg weight in the studied 3 small-scale breedings. Shell weight and shell thickness in the equatorial plane of the egg were balanced in three small-scale breedings and in the fourth small-scale breedings were significantly higher, statistically significant (p <0.05). The higher egg weight per breeding is related to the higher laying hens age that was in the 2nd laying cycle compared to laying hens 3 small-scale breedings in the 1st laying cycle. Higher eggshell weight in three farms may be related to improved conditions in breeding hygiene, as confirmed by the results of investigations into contamination and damage to table eggs. These differences may also be related to nutrition.
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17
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Rufener C, Makagon MM. Keel bone fractures in laying hens: a systematic review of prevalence across age, housing systems, and strains. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:S36-S51. [PMID: 32810250 PMCID: PMC7433929 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Rufener
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Animal Welfare, University of California, Davis, CA
| | - Maja M Makagon
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Animal Welfare, University of California, Davis, CA
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18
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Rufener C, Rentsch AK, Stratmann A, Toscano MJ. Perch Positioning Affects both Laying Hen Locomotion and Forces Experienced at the Keel. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1223. [PMID: 32708400 PMCID: PMC7401534 DOI: 10.3390/ani10071223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of perch positioning on laying hens' locomotion and the resulting energy experienced at the keel. Twenty Nick Chick and 20 Brown Nick hens were trained to transition from a platform to a perch in several configurations. Three variables of perch positioning were tested in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design: direction (upward vs. downward), angle (flat vs. steep), and distance (50 cm vs. 100 cm). All hens were tested for five jumps of each treatment combination at 27-28 weeks of age. As predicted, we found steep angles and long distances to result in higher peak forces and impulse during take-off, flight, and landing; longer latency to jump; a higher likelihood to perform balancing movements; and a longer latency to peck at the provided food reward. The effect of perch positioning on locomotion and force at the keel during downwards jumps and flight was more pronounced in Brown Nick hens than in Nick Chick hens. Although we cannot state how the observed forces at the keel relate to the risk for keel bone fractures, our results indicated that optimizing perch positioning can reduce accumulated forced at the keel and consequent risk for fracture due to unsuccessful transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Rufener
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits, Animal Welfare Division, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland; (A.K.R.); (A.S.); (M.J.T.)
| | - Ana K. Rentsch
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits, Animal Welfare Division, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland; (A.K.R.); (A.S.); (M.J.T.)
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ariane Stratmann
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits, Animal Welfare Division, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland; (A.K.R.); (A.S.); (M.J.T.)
| | - Michael J. Toscano
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits, Animal Welfare Division, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland; (A.K.R.); (A.S.); (M.J.T.)
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19
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Li Q, Ren J, Wang K, Zheng J, Xu G, Ge C, Yang N, Sun C. The effect of breed and age on the gloss of chicken eggshells. Poult Sci 2020; 99:2494-2499. [PMID: 32359585 PMCID: PMC7597533 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The monitoring of eggshell quality is important mainly in terms of production economy. Eggshell appearance is one of the most characteristics, influencing the purchasing behavior of consumers. Besides numerous eggshell appearance quality (color, shape, etc.), gloss is an important trait to reflect the eggshell appearance. In this study, 2 experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of breed and age on the gloss of eggshells. In experiment 1, we compared the eggshell gloss of 7 chicken breeds. In experiment 2, 105 Wanan (WA) chickens were raised, and 1 egg was collected from each individual at 26, 32, 40, and 50 wks of age. Eggshell gloss, color (L*, a*, b*), cuticle coverage (ΔE*ab), and thickness were measured. The results of experiment 1 showed that the average gloss values were highly variable among different breeds, and the highest was found in WA (gloss unit [GU] = 8.12), almost 2.5 folds as many as the lowest in Rhode Island Red (GU = 3.23). Also, the eggshell gloss of the local chicken breeds was significantly higher than the highly selected lines of egg-type chicken breeds (P < 0.001). In experiment 2, the results showed that gloss ranged from 9.08 GU to 12.12 GU with a variation of 28.38 to 39.71%. It fluctuated with the increasing age of hens and had the peak value at 26 wk. But, the correlation analysis between eggshell gloss and other eggshell quality traits were very low (-0.07 to 0.25). This study laid a foundation for improving the uniformity and intensity of eggshell gloss for breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanlin Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junxiao Ren
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jiangxia Zheng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guiyun Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Changrong Ge
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Ning Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Congjiao Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, Beijing 100193, China.
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20
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Eusemann BK, Patt A, Schrader L, Weigend S, Thöne-Reineke C, Petow S. The Role of Egg Production in the Etiology of Keel Bone Damage in Laying Hens. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:81. [PMID: 32154276 PMCID: PMC7047165 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Keel bone fractures and deviations belong to the most severe animal welfare problems in laying hens and are influenced by several factors such as husbandry system and genetic background. It is likely that egg production also influences keel bone health due to the high demand of calcium for the eggshell, which is, in part, taken from the skeleton. The high estrogen plasma concentration, which is linked to the high laying performance, may also affect the keel bone as sexual steroids have been shown to influence bone health. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between egg production, genetically determined high laying performance, estradiol-17ß concentration, and keel bone characteristics. Two hundred hens of two layer lines differing in laying performance (WLA: high performing; G11: low performing) were divided into four treatment groups: Group S received an implant containing a GnRH agonist that suppressed egg production, group E received an implant containing the sexual steroid estradiol-17ß, group SE received both implants, and group C were kept as control hens. Between the 12th and the 62nd weeks of age, the keel bone of all hens was radiographed and estradiol-17ß plasma concentration was assessed at regular intervals. Non-egg laying hens showed a lower risk of keel bone fracture and a higher radiographic density compared to egg laying hens. Exogenous estradiol-17ß was associated with a moderately higher risk of fracture within egg laying but with a lower risk of fracture and a higher radiographic density within non-egg laying hens. The high performing layer line WLA showed a significantly higher fracture risk but also a higher radiographic density compared to the low performing layer line G11. In contrast, neither the risk nor the severity of deviations were unambiguously influenced by egg production or layer line. We assume that within a layer line, there is a strong association between egg production and keel bone fractures, and, possibly, bone mineral density, but not between egg production and deviations. Moreover, our results confirm that genetic background influences fracture prevalence and indicate that the selection for high laying performance may negatively influence keel bone health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonia Patt
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle, Germany
| | - Lars Schrader
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle, Germany
| | - Steffen Weigend
- Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Mariensee, Germany
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Petow
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle, Germany
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21
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Gebhardt-Henrich SG, Rufener C, Stratmann A. Improving intra- and inter-observer repeatability and accuracy of keel bone assessment by training with radiographs. Poult Sci 2020; 98:5234-5240. [PMID: 31581757 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing keel bone damage reliably and accurately is a requirement for all research on this topic. Most commonly, assessment is done on live birds by palpation and is therefore prone to bias. A 2-day Training School of the COST Action "Identifying causes and solutions of keel bone damage in laying hens" with 16 participants of variable experience was held where palpation of live hens was followed by consulting corresponding radiographic images of keel bones. We hypothesized that the inter-observer and intra-observer repeatabilities as well as the agreement between palpation and assessment from the radiograph (considered as the accuracy) would increase from day 1 to 2. Repeatability estimates were calculated using the R-package rptR and the change in level of accuracy on day 1 and 2 was analyzed with generalized linear models. As predicted, the inter-observer repeatabilities of the assessments of the fractures and deviations were improved by training, but this improvement differed for fractures and deviations between the cranial, middle, and caudal parts of the keel bone. Intra-observer repeatabilities before training also differed between the different parts of the keel bone and were highest for fractures at the caudal part of the keel bone. The training affected the accuracy of palpation to different degrees for the different parts of the keel bone. A training effect was found for the caudal part of the keel bone in regard to fractures and deviations, but for fractures the training effect was missing for the cranial part and for deviations it was missing for the middle part of the keel bone. In conclusion, the training school involving radiographs improved inter-observer repeatabilities in the diagnosis of fractures and deviations of keel bones and thus had the potential to lead to more comparable results among research groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine G Gebhardt-Henrich
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Zollikofen, 3052, Switzerland
| | - Christina Rufener
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Zollikofen, 3052, Switzerland
| | - Ariane Stratmann
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Zollikofen, 3052, Switzerland
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22
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Jiang S, Wu X, Jin M, Wang X, Tang Q, Sun Y, Cheng H. Pathophysiological characteristics and gene transcriptional profiling of bone microstructure in a low calcium diet fed laying hens. Poult Sci 2019; 98:4359-4368. [DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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23
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Saraiva S, Esteves A, Stilwell G. Influence of different housing systems on prevalence of keel bone lesions in laying hens. Avian Pathol 2019; 48:454-459. [PMID: 31106598 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2019.1620914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of three housing systems (furnished cages - FC, barns - B, and free-range - FR) on the prevalence and severity of keel bone protrusion and deformations. These health and welfare indicators were measured at the slaughterhouse, using a 4-point scale (0 = absence, 1 = slight, 2 = moderate and 3 = severe). Keel bone deformation was also categorized in relation to the presence of compression over the ventral surface, deviation from a 2D straight plane and deviation from the transverse (C-shaped) or median sagittal (S-shaped) plane. The housing system had a significant effect on prevalence of keel bone deformation (χ2 = 45.465, df = 6, P < 0.001). In FR systems 60.4% of hens presented keel bone deformation, followed by 54.2% in FC and 53.5% in B; however, higher scores for keel bone deformations were more frequent in B systems. Although keel bone protrusion was observed in all laying hen systems, the majority of hens only presented a slight degree (score 1) of protrusion. A positive correlation was obtained for keel bone protrusion and emaciation. The results could be used to initiate detailed investigations into problematic issues that occur during the laying period to improve the health and welfare conditions on farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Saraiva
- School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, DCV, CECAV, Center of Animal Science and Veterinary, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal.,Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Alexandra Esteves
- School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, DCV, CECAV, Center of Animal Science and Veterinary, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro , Vila Real , Portugal
| | - George Stilwell
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Investigation in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon , Lisbon , Portugal
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Toscano M, Booth F, Richards G, Brown S, Karcher D, Tarlton J. Modeling collisions in laying hens as a tool to identify causative factors for keel bone fractures and means to reduce their occurrence and severity. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200025. [PMID: 29990363 PMCID: PMC6038993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Keel fractures represent a major productivity and welfare issue for the laying hen industry with greater than 50% of birds in recent surveys across various commercial operations and nations exhibiting some form of damage by end of lay. While the causes are likely multifactorial and influenced by age, diet, genetic line, and other factors, high energy collisions with house furnishings and conspecifics in the barn are believed to be a major contribution to the frequency and severity of factures. The current study applies a previously described ex vivo impact testing protocol to quantify susceptibility to keel bone damage across an extensive range of collision energies and ages. We also link fracture susceptibility with bone and physiological measures likely to influence skeletal resilience. Further, we applied the impact testing protocol to evaluate the benefit of an omega-3 enriched diet to improve bone health and reduce fracture susceptibility. Our results indicated that fracture susceptibility increased rapidly from 23 weeks of age, peaking at 49.5 weeks of age and thereafter decreasing. Fracture susceptibility also varied with multiple natural characteristics of bone, including mineral density, though the nature of that relationship was dependent on whether an old fracture was present. Severity of the experimental fracture demonstrated considerable variation with collision energy and biomechanical properties. An omega-3 enhanced diet provided a protective effect against fractures, though only in terms of collision energies that were relatively low. In conclusion, the impact testing protocol provided a unique means to assess fracture susceptibility and quantify the role of likely influencing bird-level biological factors, both those that vary naturally as well as when altered through specific interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Toscano
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Booth
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Lower Langford, North Somerset, England
| | - Gemma Richards
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Lower Langford, North Somerset, England
| | - Steven Brown
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Lower Langford, North Somerset, England
| | - Darrin Karcher
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - John Tarlton
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Lower Langford, North Somerset, England
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Raymond B, Johansson AM, McCormack HA, Fleming RH, Schmutz M, Dunn IC, De Koning DJ. Genome-wide association study for bone strength in laying hens. J Anim Sci 2018; 96:2525-2535. [PMID: 29701819 PMCID: PMC6159512 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone fracture in egg laying hens is a growing welfare and economic concern in the industry. Although environmental conditions and management (especially nutrition) can exacerbate it, the primary cause of bone weakness and the resulting fractures is believed to have a genetic basis. To test this hypothesis, we performed a genome-wide association study to identify the loci associated with bone strength in laying hens. Genotype and phenotype data were obtained from 752 laying hens belonging to the same pure line population. These hens were genotyped for 580,961 SNPs, with 232,021 SNPs remaining after quality control. Each of the SNPs were tested for association with tibial breaking strength using the family-based score test for association. A total of 52 SNPs across chromosomes 1, 3, 8, and 16 were significantly associated with tibial breaking strength with the genome-wide significance threshold set as a corrected P value of 10e-5. Based on the local linkage disequilibrium around the significant SNPs, 5 distinct and novel QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs), 3 (1 QTL), 8 (1 QTL) and 16 (1 QTL). The strongest association was detected within the QTL region on chromosome 8, with the most significant SNP having a corrected P value of 4e-7. A number of candidate genes were identified within the QTL regions, including the BRD2 gene that is required for normal bone physiology. Bone-related pathways involving some of the genes were also identified including chloride channel activity, which regulates bone reabsorption, and intermediate filament organization, which plays a role in the regulation of bone mass. Our result supports previous studies that suggest that bone strength is highly regulated by genetics. It is therefore possible to reduce bone fractures in laying hens through genetic selection and ultimately improve hen welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biaty Raymond
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Maria Johansson
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Heather Anne McCormack
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Robert Hall Fleming
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Ian Chisholm Dunn
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Dirk Jan De Koning
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Uppsala, Sweden
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Candelotto L, Stratmann A, Gebhardt-Henrich SG, Rufener C, van de Braak T, Toscano MJ. Susceptibility to keel bone fractures in laying hens and the role of genetic variation. Poult Sci 2018; 96:3517-3528. [PMID: 28938772 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Keel bone fractures are a well-known welfare problem in modern commercial laying hen systems. The present study sought to identify genetic variation in relation to keel bone fracture susceptibility of 4 distinct crossbred and one pure line, and by extension, possible breeding traits. Susceptibility to fractures were assessed using an ex vivo impact testing protocol in combination with a study design that minimized environmental variation to focus on genetic differences. The 5 crossbred/pure lines differed in their susceptibility to keel bone fractures with the greatest likelihood of fracture in one of the 3 commercial lines and the lowest susceptibility to fractures in one of the experimental lines. Egg production at the hen-level did not differ between the crossbred/pure lines (P > 0.05), though an increased susceptibility to keel bone fractures was associated with thinner eggshells and reduced egg breaking strength, a pattern consistent among all tested crossbred/pure lines. Our findings suggest an association between egg quality and bone strength which appeared to be independent of crossbred/pure line. The findings indicate the benefit of the impact methodology to identify potential breeding characteristics to reduce incidence of keel fracture as well as the potential relationship with eggshell quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Candelotto
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Burgerweg 22, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Ariane Stratmann
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Burgerweg 22, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Sabine G Gebhardt-Henrich
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Burgerweg 22, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Christina Rufener
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Burgerweg 22, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael J Toscano
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, Burgerweg 22, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
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Casey-Trott TM, Guerin MT, Sandilands V, Torrey S, Widowski TM. Rearing system affects prevalence of keel-bone damage in laying hens: a longitudinal study of four consecutive flocks. Poult Sci 2018; 96:2029-2039. [PMID: 28371938 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
High flock-level prevalence of keel-bone fractures and deviations in laying hens are commonly reported across various housing systems; however, few longitudinal studies exist, especially for furnished and conventional cage systems. Load-bearing exercise improves bone strength and mineral composition in laying hens and has the potential to reduce keel-bone damage, especially if exercise is allowed during critical periods of bone growth throughout the pullet rearing phase. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of keel-bone damage in laying hens housed in furnished and conventional cages, and assess whether opportunities for exercise during the pullet rearing phase influenced the prevalence of keel-bone damage throughout the laying period. Four flock replicates of 588 Lohmann Selected Leghorn-Lite pullets/flock were reared in either conventional cages (Conv) or an aviary rearing system (Avi) and placed into conventional cages (CC), 30-bird furnished cages (FC-S) or 60-bird furnished cages (FC-L) for adult housing. Keel-bone status was determined by palpation at 30, 50, and 70 wk of age. Age (P < 0.001) and rearing system (P < 0.001) had an effect on the presence of keel-bone fractures. The presence of fractures increased with age, and hens raised in the Avi system had a lower percentage of fractures (41.6% ± 2.8 SE) compared to hens reared in the Conv system (60.3% ± 2.9 SE). Adult housing system did not have an effect on the percentage of keel fractures (P = 0.223). Age had an effect on the presence of deviations (P < 0.001), with deviations increasing with age. Rearing system (P = 0.218) and adult housing system (P = 0.539) did not affect the presence of deviations. Keel fractures and deviations were strongly associated with each other at all ages: 30 wk: (P < 0.001); 50 wk: (P < 0.001); and 70 wk: (P < 0.001). Increased opportunities for exercise provided by an aviary rearing system reduced the prevalence of keel-bone fractures through the end-of-lay.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Casey-Trott
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
| | - M T Guerin
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
| | - V Sandilands
- Monogastric Science Research Centre, SRUC Auchincruive, Ayr, KA6 5HW Animal Well-Being and Behavior
| | - S Torrey
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
| | - T M Widowski
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
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28
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Stover KK, Weinreich DM, Roberts TJ, Brainerd EL. Patterns of musculoskeletal growth and dimensional changes associated with selection and developmental plasticity in domestic and wild strain turkeys. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:3229-3239. [PMID: 29607020 PMCID: PMC5869219 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestication is a type of experimental evolution in which humans have artificially selected for specific desired traits. Selected strain animals can be utilized to identify correlated responses by comparing them to the wild strain. In particular, domestic turkeys have been selected for increased body mass and high‐growth rate, most significantly over the past 60 years. Yet it remains unclear how artificial selection has affected the morphology and evolution of the musculoskeletal system as a whole. Here, we compare growth rate over 21 weeks, hind limb bone scaling across ontogeny via in vivo CT scanning, and muscle proportions in wild and domestic turkeys to identify differences in structural scaling and the potential contributions of selection and developmental plasticity to whole‐organism morphology. The domestic turkeys grew at a higher rate (0.14 kg/day vs. 0.05 kg/day) and reached over 3 times the body mass of wild birds. Comparing the proportional muscle masses in adult turkeys, only the trunk had a greater mass ratio in the domestic turkey, driven solely by M. pectoralis (2.8 times larger). The proportional increase in only breast meat and no other muscles highlights the surgical precision attainable with artificial selection. The domestic turkey femur and tibiotarsus displayed increases in polar moment of area, apparently maintaining torsional strength as body mass increased. The lack of dimensional change in the more vertically held tarsometatarsus is consistent with the pattern expected due to developmental plasticity. These results from the domestic turkey emphasize that there are morphological limits to preserving the balance between growth and function, and varying rates of trait evolution can further complicate this equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin K Stover
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Brown University Providence RI 02912 USA
| | - Daniel M Weinreich
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Brown University Providence RI 02912 USA
| | - Thomas J Roberts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Brown University Providence RI 02912 USA
| | - Elizabeth L Brainerd
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Brown University Providence RI 02912 USA
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Heerkens JLT, Delezie E, Ampe B, Rodenburg TB, Tuyttens FAM. Ramps and hybrid effects on keel bone and foot pad disorders in modified aviaries for laying hens. Poult Sci 2016; 95:2479-2488. [PMID: 27143777 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pew157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-cage systems provide laying hens with considerable space allowance, perches and access to litter, thereby offering opportunities for natural species-specific behaviors. Conversely, these typical characteristics of non-cage systems also increase the risk of keel bone and foot pad disorders. The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to investigate if providing ramps between perches (housing factor) reduces keel bone and foot pad disorders and 2) to test for genetic predisposition by comparing 2 different layer hybrids. In a 2 × 2 design, 16 pens were equipped either with or without ramps between perches and nest boxes (8 pens/treatment), and housed with either 25 ISA Brown or Dekalb White birds per pen (in total 200 birds/hybrid). Keel bone injuries and foot health were repeatedly measured via palpation and visual assessment between 17 and 52 wk of age and daily egg production was recorded. The relationships between the dependent response variables (keel bone and footpad disorders, egg production) and independent factors (age, ramps, hybrid) were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models and corrected for repeated measures. Ramps reduced keel bone fractures (F1,950 = 45.80, P < 0.001), foot pad hyperkeratosis (F1,889 = 10.40, P = 0.001), foot pad dermatitis (F1,792 = 20.48, P < 0.001) and bumble foot (F1,395 = 8.52, P < 0.001) compared to pens without ramps. ISA Brown birds sustained more keel bone fractures (F1,950 = 33.26, P < 0.001), had more foot pad hyperkeratosis (F1,889 = 44.69, P < 0.001) and laid more floor eggs (F1,1883 = 438.80, P < 0.001), but had fewer keel bone deviations (F1,1473 = 6.73, P < 0.001), fewer cases of foot pad dermatitis (F1,792 = 19.84, P < 0.001) and no bumble foot as compared to Dekalb White birds. Age, housing and hybrid showed several interaction effects. Providing ramps proved to be very effective in both reducing keel bone and foot pad problems in non-cage systems. Keel bone and foot pad disorders are related to genetic predisposition. These results indicate that adaptation of the housing systems and hybrid selection may be effective measures in improving laying hen welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L T Heerkens
- Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - E Delezie
- Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - B Ampe
- Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - T B Rodenburg
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - F A M Tuyttens
- Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle, Belgium Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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