Knowles, Toby G., Kestin, Steve C., Haslam, Susan M., Brown, Steven N., Green, Laura E., Butterworth, Andrew, Pope, Stuart J., Pfeiffer, Dirk and Nicol, Christine J. (2008) Leg disorders in broiler chickens : prevalence, risk factors and prevention. PL o S One, Vol.3 (No.2). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001545 ISSN 1932-6203.

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Abstract

Broiler (meat) chickens have been subjected to intense genetic selection. In the past 50 years, broiler growth rates have increased
by over 300% (from 25 g per day to 100 g per day). There is growing societal concern that many broiler chickens have impaired
locomotion or are even unable to walk. Here we present the results of a comprehensive survey of commercial flocks which
quantifies the risk factors for poor locomotion in broiler chickens.We assessed the walking ability of 51,000 birds, representing 4.8
million birds within 176 flocks.We also obtained information on approximately 150 different management factors associated with
each flock. At a mean age of 40 days, over 27.6% of birds in our study showed poor locomotion and 3.3% were almost unable to
walk. The high prevalence of poor locomotion occurred despite culling policies designed to remove severely lame birds from
flocks. We show that the primary risk factors associated with impaired locomotion and poor leg health are those specifically
associated with rate of growth. Factors significantly associated with high gait score included the age of the bird (older birds), visit
(second visit to same flock), bird genotype, not feeding whole wheat, a shorter dark period during the day, higher stocking density
at the time of assessment, no use of antibiotic, and the use of intact feed pellets. The welfare implications are profound. Worldwide
approximately 261010 broilers are reared within similar husbandry systems.We identify a range of management factors that could
be altered to reduce leg health problems, but implementation of these changes would be likely to reduce growth rate and
production. A debate on the sustainability of current practice in the production of this important food source is required.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Broilers (Chickens) -- Locomotion, Broilers (Chickens) -- Abnormalities, Broilers (Chickens) -- Growth, Leg -- Abnormalities
Journal or Publication Title:	PL o S One
Publisher:	Public Library of Science
ISSN:	1932-6203
Official Date:	6 February 2008
Dates:	Date Event 6 February 2008 Published
Volume:	Vol.3
Number:	No.2
Number of Pages:	5
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0001545
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Funder:	Great Britain. Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Grant number:	AW0230 (DEFRA)

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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