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Anderson MG, Johnson AM, Harrison C, Arguelles-Ramos M, Ali A. Impact of Perch Provision Timing on Activity and Musculoskeletal Health of Laying Hens. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:265. [PMID: 38254433 PMCID: PMC10812542 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020265] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Laying hens can experience a progressive increase in bone fragility due to the ongoing mobilization of calcium from bones for eggshell formation. Over time, this escalates their susceptibility to bone fracture, which can reduce their mobility and cause pain. The provision of perches as an exercise opportunity could potentially enhance bone strength, but the timing of exposure to perches during the birds' development may modulate its impact. The objective of this study was to investigate the enduring impacts of perch provision timing on the musculoskeletal health of laying hens. A total of 812 pullets were kept in different housing conditions (seven pens/treatment, 29 birds/pen) with either continuous access to multi-tier perches from 0 to 40 weeks of age (CP), no access to perches (NP), early access to perches during the rearing phase from 0 to 17 weeks of age (EP), or solely during the laying phase from 17 to 40 weeks of age (LP). At weeks 24, 36, and 40 of age (n = 84 birds/week), three birds per pen were monitored for individual activity level, and blood samples were collected from a separate set of three birds per pen to analyze serum levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) as markers of bone demineralization. At 40 weeks of age, three birds per pen (n = 84) were euthanized for computed tomography scans to obtain tibial bone mineral density (BMD) and cross-sectional area (CSA) with further analysis including muscle deposition, tibial breaking strength, and tibial ash percent. During week 24, hens from CP, EP, and LP pens had the highest overall activity compared to hens from NP pens (p < 0.05) with no differences between treatments for overall activity level during weeks 36 or 40 (p > 0.05). During weeks 24, 36, and 40, hens from CP and LP pens showed greater vertical and less horizontal activity compared to hens from EP and NP pens (p < 0.05). TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations did not differ between treatments at week 24 of age (p > 0.05). Hens from CP pens had the lowest TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations at 36 weeks of age with EP and LP hens showing intermediate responses and NP hens having the highest concentration (p < 0.05). At 40 weeks of age, CP hens had the lowest TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations compared to NP hens (p < 0.05). Total bone CSA did not differ between treatments (p > 0.05), but CP had greater total BMD than NP (p < 0.05) with no differences between EP and LP treatments. CP and LP hens had larger biceps brachii, pectoralis major, and leg muscle groups as well as greater tibial breaking strengths than EP and NP treatments (p < 0.05). CP hens had higher tibial ash percentages compared to EP, LP, and NP (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that providing continuous perch access improves the musculoskeletal health and activity of laying hens at 40 weeks of age compared to no access and that late access to perches has a beneficial impact on activity, muscle deposition, and bone strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallory G. Anderson
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (M.G.A.); (A.M.J.); (C.H.); (M.A.-R.)
| | - Alexa M. Johnson
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (M.G.A.); (A.M.J.); (C.H.); (M.A.-R.)
| | - Cerano Harrison
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (M.G.A.); (A.M.J.); (C.H.); (M.A.-R.)
- South Carolina Translational Research Improving Musculoskeletal Health Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Mireille Arguelles-Ramos
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (M.G.A.); (A.M.J.); (C.H.); (M.A.-R.)
| | - Ahmed Ali
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (M.G.A.); (A.M.J.); (C.H.); (M.A.-R.)
- Animal Behavior and Management, Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
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The Effect of Whey on Performance, Gut Health and Bone Morphology Parameters in Broiler Chicks. Foods 2020; 9:foods9050588. [PMID: 32380761 PMCID: PMC7278671 DOI: 10.3390/foods9050588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Whey is a highly nutritious byproduct of the cheese industry that can be used effectively in the animal feed industry. However, the use of whey in poultry diets is limited by its high lactose and mineral contents. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of whey in poultry diets on the performance, intestinal microbiota and physico-chemical parameters of the intestinal ecosystem, as well as on the bone morphology and its strength in broiler chicks. One hundred and twenty-eight, day-old, male broiler chicks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups of 32 chicks each. The treatment groups were: group A, which served as negative control and groups B, C and D, supplemented with 1, 2 and 5% of dietary whey, respectively. Performance of the groups was evaluated throughout the experiment. Following necropsies, the gastrointestinal tract from each bird was removed, divided into its anatomical parts and intestinal samples were taken for microbiological analysis and for pH and viscosity measurement as well. Tibiotarsus was also collected for morphometric analysis and strength evaluation. The statistical analysis of the experimental data revealed that the dietary supplementation of 1 and 2% of whey improved significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the body weight, while the addition of 5% of whey reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the body weight. Furthermore, the addition of 1, 2 and 5% of dietary whey increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the pH of jejunum digesta and reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the pH of caecum digesta compared to the control group. The addition of 1 and 2% of whey reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the viscosity in the jejunum and ileum digesta, compared to the addition of 5% of whey which reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the viscosity in jejunum digesta but increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the viscosity in ileum digesta. Moreover, the addition of 1, 2 and 5% of dietary whey increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the caecal counts of Lactobacillus spp. and Lactococcus lactis, while the addition of 5% of whey reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the tibiotarsus length. It can be concluded that the addition of low quantities of whey up to 2% promoted the performance and gut health of birds, while the addition of higher quantities of whey at the level of 5% had a detrimental effect on the performance and tibiotarsus length.
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Casey-Trott TM, Korver DR, Guerin MT, Sandilands V, Torrey S, Widowski TM. Opportunities for exercise during pullet rearing, Part II: Long-term effects on bone characteristics of adult laying hens at the end-of-lay. Poult Sci 2018; 96:2518-2527. [PMID: 28431174 PMCID: PMC5850794 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoporosis in laying hens has been a production and welfare concern for several decades. The objective of this study was to determine whether differing opportunities for exercise during pullet rearing influences long-term bone quality characteristics in end-of-lay hens. A secondary objective was to assess whether differing opportunities for exercise in adult housing systems alters bone quality characteristics in end-of-lay hens. Four flock replicates of 588 Lohmann Selected Leghorn-Lite pullets 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. Wing and leg bones were collected at the end-of-lay to quantify bone composition and strength using quantitative computed tomography and bone breaking strength (BBS). At the end-of-lay, Avi hens had greater total and cortical cross-sectional area (P < 0.05) for the radius and tibia, greater total bone mineral content of the radius (P < 0.001), and greater tibial cortical bone mineral content (P = 0.029) than the Conv hens; however, total bone mineral density of the radius (P < 0.001) and cortical bone mineral density of the radius and tibia (P < 0.001) were greater in the Conv hens. Hens in the FC-L had greater total bone mineral density for the radius and tibia (P < 0.05) and greater trabecular bone mineral density for the radius (P = 0.027), compared to hens in the FC-S and CC. Total bone mineral content of the tibia (P = 0.030) and cortical bone mineral content of the radius (P = 0.030) and tibia (P = 0.013) were greater in the FC-L compared to the CC. The humerus of Conv hens had greater BBS than the Avi hens (P < 0.001), and the tibiae of FC-L and FC-S hens had greater BBS than CC hens (P = 0.006). Increased opportunities for exercise offered by the aviary rearing system provided improved bone quality characteristics lasting through to the end-of-lay.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Casey-Trott
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1.,Campbell Center for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
| | - D R Korver
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5
| | - M T Guerin
- Campbell Center for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1.,Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
| | - V Sandilands
- Monogastric Science Research Center, SRUC Auchincruive, Ayr, KA6 5HW
| | - S Torrey
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1.,Campbell Center for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
| | - T M Widowski
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1.,Campbell Center for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
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An SH, Kim DW, An BK. Effects of Dietary Calcium Levels on Productive Performance, Eggshell Quality and Overall Calcium Status in Aged Laying Hens. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2016; 29:1477-82. [PMID: 26954217 PMCID: PMC5003974 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.15.0655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of diets with varying levels of calcium on egg production, shell quality and overall calcium status in aged laying hens. A total of five hundred 70-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were divided five groups and fed one of the five experimental diets with 3.5%, 3.8%, 4.1%, 4.4%, or 4.7% Ca, for 10 weeks. There were no significant differences in feed intake, egg production and egg weight among groups. The cracked eggs were linearly reduced as dietary Ca levels increased to 4.7% (p<0.01). A significant linear improvement for eggshell strength and thickness were determined with increasing dietary Ca levels (p<0.01). The contents of serum Ca and phosphorus were not affected by dietary Ca levels. With increase in dietary Ca levels, the tibial breaking strength slightly increased. There were no significant differences in the tibial contents of ash, Ca and phosphorus among groups. In conclusion, eggshell quality, as measured by appearance, strength and thickness of eggshell, were influenced by dietary Ca content as expected (p<0.05). These results suggested that aged laying hens require relatively higher level of Ca than required levels from current Korean feeding standards for poultry.
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Affiliation(s)
- S H An
- Team of An Educational Program for Specialists in Global Animal Science, Brain Korea 21 Plus Project, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - D W Kim
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Team, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Wanjugun 55365, Korea
| | - B K An
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
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Cufadar Y, Olgun O, Yildiz A. The effect of dietary calcium concentration and particle size on performance, eggshell quality, bone mechanical properties and tibia mineral contents in moulted laying hens. Br Poult Sci 2011; 52:761-8. [DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2011.641502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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