A walk through the broiler breeder life- how do footpad dermatitis and gait scores develop from rearing to slaughter?

This study is the first to investigate FPD and GS in broiler breeders during their life span from rearing to end of life. In total, 8 flocks were monitored (4 Ross, 4 Hubbard) at five different time points, in rearing (5 and 15 weeks of age), during the production period (25 and 45 weeks of age) and at the end of the production period (approximately 60 weeks of age). At each visit, 50 hens and 25 roosters were gait scored (6-point scale) and from another 50 hens and 25 roosters' footpads (5-point scale) were evaluated (total n = 3000 breeders, 2000 hens and 1000 roosters). Litter quality and air quality were measured at each visit. The results showed that the overall prevalence of FPD in rearing was low and that it increased towards the end of the production, with mean FPD score of 2 out of maximum 4 in the hens, indication moderate lesion and 1,5 in the roosters. In all houses, the litter was dry and loose. FPD was not related to the litter quality, but to air quality, especially the ammonia concentration (P < 0.001). Overall, the GS were good, and increased with age in both hens (P < 0.001) and roosters of both hybrids (P < 0.001).PMID:38193215 | DOI:10.1080/03079457.2024.2304005
Source: Avian Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Source Type: research