Shape and Fractures of Carina Sterni in Chicken Genotypes with Different Egg Deposition Rates Reared Indoor or Free-range

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2023 Dec 19

PMID 38110659

Authors

Domitilla Pulcini

Simona Mattioli

Elisa Angelucci

Wei Chenggang

Alice Cartoni Mancinelli

Riccardo Napolitano

Federico Sirri

Raffaela Piscitelli

Cecilia Mugnai

Cesare Castellini

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Commercial laying hens have high frequency of damage to the keel bone (KB), which causes negative effects on health and welfare. KB damage may consist in fractures (KBF) and deviations (KBD). The aim of the present study was to compare the KB shape, by means of Geometric Morphometric, and the occurrence of fractures in different chicken genotypes reared either free-range (FR) or in enriched cages. Moreover, the relationship between KB shape, genotype and rearing system was analysed. Sixty birds/genotype (2 Italian local breeds, Bionda Piemontese and Robusta Maculata, their crossbreeds with Sasso and Lohmann Brown) were used. All the hens fed the same commercial feed throughout the trial. Body weight, egg production, feed intake and mortality were recorded from 25 to 66 weeks of age. Ca intake (IN) and output (OUT) were estimated and Ca OUT/IN was calculated. FR affected the occurrence of KB deviations but not the shape, whereas the fractures were mainly affected by genotype. Local breeds had a lower prevalence of KBF with similar level of KBD but with different shapes. Crossbreeds seemed to be a suitable compromise between egg deposition rate and occurrence of KB damages.

Citing Articles

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