Earlier hatching time predisposes Cobb broiler chickens to tibial dyschondroplasia

Abstract

Fertile eggs from Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens were incubated to provide low starting egg shell temperatures (EST; 36.9°C to 37.3°C) which were gradually increased to 37.8°C during the first 7 to 15 days of incubation compared with eggs incubated with a constant EST of 37.8°C (standard conditions) over the first 18 days of incubation. Time of individual chick hatching (measured at 6 h intervals from 468 h of incubation), chick weight, chick length and yolk weight were measured at take-off and BW was measured at 7, 14, 28, 34 and 42 days of age. Male birds at 34 and 42 days of age were assessed for their ability to remain standing in a latency-to-lie test. At 34 and 42 days, male birds were examined for leg symmetry, foot pad dermatitis, hock bruising and scored (scale 0 to 4, where 0 = no lesion and 4 = lesions extending completely across the tibial growth plate) for tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) lesions. The lower EST profiles caused chicks to hatch later than those incubated under the standard EST profile. Chicks which hatched at ⩽498 h incubation grew faster over the first 7 days than those that hatched later. There were significantly more birds (only males were studied) that hatched from the lower EST profiles with TD scores of 0 and 1 and fewer with score 4 at 34 days than those hatched under the standard profile. Male birds at 34 days with TD lesions ⩾3 stood for significantly shorter times than males with TD scores ⩽2. Moreover, male birds at 34 and 42 days with TD lesion scores of ⩾3 hatched significantly earlier and grew significantly faster over the first 2 weeks of age than did male birds with TD scores ⩽2. It appears possible to decrease the severity and prevalence of TD in the Cobb 500 broiler by ensuring that the birds do not hatch before 498 h of incubation.

Tibial dyschondroplasia is closely related to suppression of expression of hypoxia-inducible factors 1α, 2α, and 3α in chickens

“…Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a particularly common leg problem worldwide with unknown natural etiology in commercial broilers and is characterized by abnormal proximal tibial bone formation and avascular cartilage [ 5 16 18 ]. The avascular and noncalcified cartilage leads to an apparent locomotion problem, and there is a prevalence of approximately 30% (and rising) in broiler flocks [ 15 18 ].…”

“…The avascular and noncalcified cartilage leads to an apparent locomotion problem, and there is a prevalence of approximately 30% (and rising) in broiler flocks [ 15 18 ]. In general, precise prevalence estimates of TD are not readily accessible due to its mostly sub-clinical symptoms [ 5 ], but TD does result in leg weakness and motion reduction, which contribute to reduced production performance and compromised poultry welfare.…”

Dietary Clostridium butyricum and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 modulate bone metabolism of broilers through the gut—brain axis

“…Following the methods of Groves et al ( Groves and Muir, 2017 ), LTL was measured on d 37. Birds were placed in a 50 × 35 × 50 cm 3 plastic basin containing water at a depth of approximately 3 cm and a temperature of approximately 32°C.…”

Integrated Fecal Microbiome and Metabolomics Reveals a Novel Potential Biomarker for Predicting Tibial Dyschondroplasia in Chickens

“…In addition, the abnormalities of growth and development of the skeleton in poultry indirectly lead to reduce gross profits (about 10%–40%) in the poultry industry ( Almeida Paz et al, 2010 ). But, it is challenging to accurately assess the prevalence of TD in broiler management due to its sub-clinical signs and symptoms ( Groves and Muir, 2017 ). However, the formation of broiler TD causes leg weakness, dyskinesias and leg deformities that ultimately prevent standing ( Genin et al, 2012 ; Huang et al, 2019 ), thus compromising the welfare of the chickens.…”