Preliminary study to examine the utility of using foot burn or hock burn to assess aspects of housing conditions for broiler chicken
- 1 February 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in British Poultry Science
- Vol. 47 (1), 13-18
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660500475046
Abstract
1. Eleven broiler chicken farms, representing 4 production system types, were visited during the last 5 d of the flock cycle: bird and flock details were recorded. Litter friability was assessed at 9 sites within the house, atmospheric ammonia was measured at three sites and bird cleanliness was assessed on a numerical rating scale. 2. For these flocks, hock burn, foot burn and breast burn were measured at the processing plant by standardised assessors. 3. Significant correlations were identified between the percentage of birds with foot burn and average litter score, average house ammonia concentrations and feather score. 4. No correlation was found between the percentage of birds with hock burn or breast burn and average litter scores, average ammonia concentrations or feather score. 5. No correlation was found between stocking density and foot burn, hock burn or breast burn. 6. If confirmed, these findings may have implications for the draft EU Broiler Directive, for which it is proposed that permitted stocking density on farm may be determined by the incidence and severity of contact dermatitis measured on plant.Keywords
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- Chicken welfare is influenced more by housing conditions than by stocking densityNature, 2004
- Prevalence and control of foot-pad dermatitis in broilers in SwedenBritish Poultry Science, 1998
- Effect of intermittent lighting, light intensity and source on the performance and welfare of broilersWorld's Poultry Science Journal, 1996
- Photoperiodic Effects on Performance and Leg Abnormalities in Broiler ChickensPoultry Science, 1989
- A contact dermatitis of broilers ‐epidemiological findingsAvian Pathology, 1987
- Effect of Intermittent Lighting on Performance and Energy Metabolism of BroilersPoultry Science, 1986
- The Effect of Lighting, Dietary Amino Acids, and Litter on the Incidence of Leg Abnormalities and Performance of Turkey TomsPoultry Science, 1985
- Ulcerative dermatitis dm broiler chickens: The effects of wet litterAvian Pathology, 1985
- Effects of High Intensity Step-Up and Low Intensity Step-Down Lighting Programs on the Incidence of Leg Abnormalities in TurkeysPoultry Science, 1983
- Twisted legs in broilersBritish Poultry Science, 1978