A Review of Nutritional and Metabolic Factors Involved in Dyschondroplasia in Poultry

Abstract

Whitehead, C.C. 1998. A review of nutritional and metabolic factors involved in dyschondroplasia in poultry. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 13: 1–16.

Dyschondroplasia is caused by a defect in endochondral bone growth which interrupts the process of growth plate chondrocyte differentiation and leads to the build up of a mass of avascular cartilage. It occurs most frequently as tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in broilers and can result in bone growth abnormality contributing to leg weakness. A number of nutritional factors, including calcium, phosphorus, monovalent ions, protein, amino acids, thiocarbonates, trace minerals and vitamins, have been shown to affect the incidence of TD. Vitamin D metabolites are probably the most important nutritional factors, because dietary supplementation with 1-hydroxylated metabolites, particularly 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, can prevent TD completely. Other metabolites, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D, may also be partially effective at higher dietary concentrations. The full aetiology of TD is not understood, but the mechanism of action of vitamin D metabolites may involve stimulation of differentiation by interaction with local or systemic cell regulatory factors.

Keywords:

• Chondrocyte
• bone
• differentiation
• leg weakness
• tibial dyschondroplasia
• vitamin D