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A total of 2,118 birds from 2 strains were allocated to 12 groups of 93 to 100 each in 2 time-separated replicates. The development of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) and hock burn (HB) were recorded weekly from d 8 to slaughter on a set sample of live animals (7 per group). In addition, feet and hocks of all birds were investigated at slaughter at either 4, 6 (fast-growing strain), 8, or 10 (slow-growing strain) wk of age. Lesions were scored for both the left and right foot and classified according to a scale from 1 (no lesion) to 9 (very severe lesions) for FPD and from 1 (no lesion) to 3 (very severe lesions) for HB. No FPD lesions and very few low-grade HB lesions were found in chickens from the slow-growing strain. In the fast-growing strain, the first signs of FPD and HB were seen in wk 2. The incidence of both types of lesions increased thereafter. Foot pad dermatitis was more frequent in females (49 vs. 36%, P < 0.05). Body weight did not affect FPD, but more HB were found at higher BW (P < 0.01). Egg weight influenced neither FPD nor HB. Variance and covariance components were analyzed using a multivariate animal model, in which scores for FPD and HB were transformed into logarithmic scale. The analyses were carried out using restricted maximum likelihood algorithm. Heritabilities were estimated to be 0.31 +/- 0.12 (SE) for FPD, 0.08 +/- 0.08 for HB, and 0.38 +/- 0.13 for BW. Genetic correlations among these traits were low and nonsignificant. Phenotypic correlation between BW and FPD was low and nonsignificant and between BW and HB was 0.17 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.01). The relative high heritability of FPD and the low genetic correlation to BW suggested that genetic selection against susceptibility to FPD should be possible without negative effects on BW gain.

Transport of farm animals gives rise to concern about their welfare. Specific attention has been given to the duration of animal transport, and maximum journey durations are used in legislation that seek to minimise any negative impact of transport on animal welfare. This paper reviews the relatively few scientific investigations into effects of transport duration on animal welfare in cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and poultry. From the available literature, we attempt to distinguish between aspects, which will impair welfare on journeys of any duration, such as those associated with loading, and those aspects that may be exacerbated by journey time. We identify four aspects of animal transport, which have increasing impact on welfare as transport duration increases. These relate to (i) the physiological and clinical state of the animal before transport; and -during transport -to (ii) feeding and watering; (iii) rest and (iv) thermal environment. It is thus not journey duration per se but these associated negative aspects that are the cause of compromised welfare. We suggest that with a few exceptions, transport of long duration is possible in terms of animal welfare provided that these four issues can be dealt with for the species and the age group of the animals that are transported.

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