Factors associated with keel bone damage – a longitudinal study of commercial layer flocks during the laying period

ABSTRACT

1. Keel bone damage, such as deformations and fractures, is a severe problem regarding animal welfare in layers. To identify risk factors under commercial conditions, 33 layer flocks (22 barn, 11 free range) with white (n = 18), brown (n = 11) and mixed (n = 4) genotypes were examined.

2. Keel bone status was frequently scored by palpation throughout the laying period. Data on housing and management conditions were collected. Multiple regression and Generalized Estimating Equations procedure were used for analysis.

3. At 65–74 weeks of age, the prevalence of keel bone damage ranged between 26% and 74%. White genotypes and those kept in multi-tier systems developed significantly (p < 0.05) more keel bone damage than brown genotypes or those kept in single-tier systems. Wing feather condition was associated with keel bone damage (p < 0.05), while other investigated variables regarding health, housing and management were not associated.

4. In conclusion, housing and management should be adapted to meet the birds’ specific needs in multi-tier systems, which may vary for brown and white genotypes. Whether those differences result from genotype associated predispositions or other individual traits remains to be determined.

KEYWORDS:

• Layers
• deformation
• fracture
• feather condition
• welfare

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all participating farmers for their assistance and the Thuringian Poultry Farmers Association.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The data in this study are based on the project Haltung von Legehennen mit ungekürzter Schnabelspitze (Keeping hens without beak trimming), project number 2016 LFE 0003, EIP agri operational group. The data evaluation took place as part of the project Brustbeinveränderungen bei Legehennen (Keel bone damage in laying hens) project number [2019 LFE 0002], EIP agri operational group. Both were funded by the Thüringer Aufbaubank and the Thuringian Animal Disease Fund.