A descriptive study of keel bone fractures in hens and roosters from four non-commercial laying breeds housed in furnished cages
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Standard
A descriptive study of keel bone fractures in hens and roosters from four non-commercial laying breeds housed in furnished cages. / Kittelsen, Käthe Elise; Moe, Randi Oppermann; Hansen, Tone Beate; Toftaker, Ingrid; Christensen, Jens Peter; Vasdal, Guro.
I: Animals, Bind 10, Nr. 11, 2192, 2020, s. 1-9.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - A descriptive study of keel bone fractures in hens and roosters from four non-commercial laying breeds housed in furnished cages
AU - Kittelsen, Käthe Elise
AU - Moe, Randi Oppermann
AU - Hansen, Tone Beate
AU - Toftaker, Ingrid
AU - Christensen, Jens Peter
AU - Vasdal, Guro
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Animal welfare
KW - Gene preservation
KW - Keel bone fracture
KW - Laying hen
KW - Poultry welfare
U2 - 10.3390/ani10112192
DO - 10.3390/ani10112192
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33238563
AN - SCOPUS:85096381728
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Animals
JF - Animals
SN - 2076-2615
IS - 11
M1 - 2192
ER -
ID: 259671876