A study on nutritional agents associated with leg lameness in commercial broiler chicken

VIJAY AVINASH  S; RAJA  KUMAR; UMA MAHESWARI D; RAJENDRAN D; UMA S; POOBITHA S; LAKKAWARA W; M G  NAIR

doi:10.56093/ijans.v95i11.141829

Authors

VIJAY AVINASH S Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4794-5094
RAJA KUMAR Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8843-1478
UMA MAHESWARI D Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5245-7630
RAJENDRAN D Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6619-6155
UMA S Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5641-5059
POOBITHA S Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2860-1652
LAKKAWARA W Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2520-9841
M G NAIR Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-605 009, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v95i11.141829

Keywords:

Aflatoxin, Broiler, Lameness, Manganese, Vitamin D3

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of leg lameness in commercial broilers and the nutritional agents associated with this condition. The study was carried out during the period from October 2022 to March 2023 in and around Puducherry. A total of 20 commercial broilers farms were investigated for the occurrence of lameness based on the gait scoring system. Birds with a score more than 3 were considered as lame bird. Out of 20, 10 farms with highest occurrence of lameness were selected for further study. The average percentage of lameness in the surveyed and selected farms was 21.1 % and 25 %, respectively. All the flocks were maintained under deep litter system with the recommended floor space on continuous lighting program and ad libitum feeding. None of the flocks showed lesions of foot pad dermatitis and hock burn. Though, the level of calcium and phosphorus did not differ significantly in the feed sample, magnesium and manganese contents were found to be below the recommended level of BIS, 2007. All the feed samples were positive for aflatoxin and in 50% of the samples, the level exceed 20 ppb. No significant difference was recorded in the mean values of serum phosphorous, ALT, AST and glucose between control and lame group but the serum calcium and vitamin D3 were significantly lower in latter. Bone mineral profile revealed relatively lower dry fat free bone weight and ash weight for lame group compared to control group. The bone manganese content was significantly lower in lame birds compared to the control group. The present study highlighted the importance of feeding adequate levels of manganese in the diet of broilers. In addition, the feed should be routinely screened for the levels of aflatoxins.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics. 2021. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.

Bassler A W, Arnould C, Butterworth A, Colin L, De Jong I C, Ferrante V, Ferrari P, Haslam S, Wemelsfelder F and Blokhuis H J. 2013. Potential risk factors associated with contact dermatitis, lameness, negative emotional state, and fear of humansin broiler chicken flocks. Poultry Science 92:2811–26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2013-03208

Bennett C E.2018. The broiler chicken as a signal of a human reconfigured biosphere. Royal Society Open Science 5:180–325. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.180325

Bird F H. 1978. The effect of aflatoxin B1 on the utilization of cholecalciferol by chicks. Poultry Science 57(5): 1293–96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0571293

Butterworth A. 1999. Infectious components of broiler lameness – a review. World Poutlry Science 55: 327–50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/WPS19990024

Cicek H and Tandogan M. 2016. Estimation of optimum slaughter age in broiler chicks. Indian Journal of Animal Research 50(4): 621–23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18805/ijar.8430

de Jong I C, Moya T P and Gunnink H. 2011. Simplifying the welfare quality assessment protocol for broilers. Wageningen:

Wageningen UR Livestock Research.

Elliot M A, Roberson K D, Rowland G N and Edwards Jr H M. 1995. Effects of dietary calcium and 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol

on the development of tibial dyschondroplasia in broilers during the starter and grower periods. Poultry Science 74(9): 1495–1505. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0741495

Fouad A M, Ruan D, El-Senousey H K, Chen W, Jiang S and Zheng C. 2019. Harmful effects and control strategies of aflatoxin b1 produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus strains on poultry. Toxins 11(3): 176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11030176

Granquist E, Vasdal G, De Jong I and Moe R. 2019. Lameness and its relationship with health and production measures in broiler chickens. Animal 13(10): 2365–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119000466

Güz B C. 2022. Healthy bones for broiler chickens (Doctoral dissertation, Wageningen University and Research).

Halit Imik, Kapakin K A T, Gumuş R, Kapakin S and Ali Kurt. 2012. The effect of tibial dyschondroplasia on metabolic parameters in broiler chickens. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 59(4): 271–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1501/Vetfak_0000002538

Havenstein G B, Ferket P R and Qureshi M A. 2003. Growth, livability, and feed conversion of 1957 versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets. Poultry Science 82: 1500–08. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/82.10.1500

Huff W E, Doerr J A, Hamilton P B, Hamann D D, Peterson R E and Ciegler A. 1980. Evaluation of bone strength during aflatoxicosis and ochratoxicosis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 40(1): 102–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.40.1.102-107.1980

Julian R J. 1998. Rapid growth problems: ascites and skeletal deformities in broilers. Poultry Science 77: 1773–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/77.12.1773

Kapell D N, Hill W G, Neeteson A M, McAdam J, Koerhuis A N and Avendano S. 2012. Twenty-five years of selection for improved leg health in purebred broiler lines and underlying genetic parameters. Poultry Science 91: 3032–43 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2012-02578

Kestin S C, Knowles T G, Tinch and Gregory N G. 1992. Prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chickens and its relationship with genotype. The Veterinary Record 131(9):190–94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.131.9.190

Khan S, Shahid R, Mian A A, Sardar R and Anjum M A. 2010. Effect of the level of cholecalciferol supplementation diets on the performance and tibial dyschondroplasia. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition (94): 584–93 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2009.00943.x

Kittelsen K E, David B, Moe R O, Poulsen H D, Young J F, Granquist E G. 2017. Associations among gait score, production data, abattoir registrations, and postmortem tibia measurements in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 96(5):1033–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pew433

Knowles T G, Kestin S C, Haslam S M, Brown S N, Green L E, Butterworth A, Pope S J, Pfeiffer D and Nicol C J. 2008. Leg disorders in broiler chickens: prevalence, risk factors and prevention.PLoS One 3: e1545. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001545

Leterrier C, Vallée C, Constantin P, Chagneau A M, Lessire M, Lescoat P and Bouvarel I. 2008. Sequential feeding with variations in energy and protein levels improves gait score in meat-type chickens. Animal 2(11): 1658–65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731108002875

Liu R, Jin C, Wang Z, Wang J and Wang L. 2015. Effects of manganese deficiency on the microstructure of proximal tibia and OPG/RANKL gene expression in chicks. Veterinary Research Communications 39: 31–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-015-9626-5

Mesgar A, Aghdam Shahryar H, Bailey C A, Ebrahimnezhad Y and Mohan A. 2022. Effect of dietary L-threonine and toxin binder on performance, blood parameters, and immune response of broilers exposed to aflatoxin B1. Toxins 14(3): 192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14030192

Morris M P. 1993. National survey of leg problems. Broiler Industry 93(5): 20–24.

Rojas Nunez I, Moore A F and Lorenzoni A G. 2020. Incidence of bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (femoral head necrosis) induced by a model of skeletal stress and its correlation with subclinical necrotic enteritis. Microorganisms 8(2): 205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8020205

Shastak Y and Rodehutscord M. 2015. A review of the role of magnesium in poultry nutrition. World's Poultry Science Journal 71(1): 125–38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933915000112

Sorensen P, Su G and Kestin S C. 1999. The effect of photoperiod: scotoperiod on leg weakness in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 78: 336–42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/78.3.336

Talapatra S K, Ray SC and Sen K C. 1940.The analysis of mineral constituents in biological materials. 1. Estimation of phosphorus, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium in food-stuffs. Indian Journal of Veterinary Science 10: 243–58.

Wang J, Wang Z Y, Wang Z J, Liu R, Liu SQ and Wang L. 2015. Effects of manganese deficiency on chondrocyte development in tibia growth plate of Arbor Acres chicks. Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism (33): 23–29 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-014-0563-0

Wang Y, Gou Z, Lin X, Fan Q, Ye J and Jiang S. 2021. Optimal Level of Supplemental Manganese for Yellow-Feathered Broilers during the Growth Phase. Animal 11: 1389 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051389

Xia WH, Tang L, Wang ZY and Wang L. 2022. Effects of Inorganic and organic manganese supplementation on growth performance, tibia development, and oxidative stress in broiler chickens. Biological Trace Element Research 1–12.

Yousaf A, Tunio S, Kumar L, Rahman S U, Channo A, Soomro A G and Lanjar Z. 2021. A Review Study on Legs Lameness and Weaknesses Assessment Methods in Commercial Broiler Farming in Pakistan. Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research 40(2): 32113–120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26717/BJSTR.2021.40.006433

Zhang L H, He T F, Hu J X, Li M and Piao X S. 2020. Effects of normal and low calcium and phosphorus levels and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on performance, serum antioxidant status, meat quality, and bone properties of broilers. Poultry science 99(11): 5663–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.07.008

Zuidhof M J, Schneider B L, Carney V L, Korver D R and Robinson F E. 2014. Growth, efficiency, and yield of commercial broilers from 1957, 1978, and 2005. Poultry Science 93(12): 2970–82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2014-04291