Photogrammetry: a Non-Invasive and Objective Method for Detecting Locomotion Problems in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Locomotion problems in broiler chickens can cause economic losses of up to 40% of the total revenues due to carcass condemnation and downgrading at processing. Leg disorders, such as femoral lesions, tibial dyschondroplasia, and spondylolisthesis, substantially impact the welfare of chickens as these disorders can prevent birds from reaching the feeders and drinkers, thus reducing feed and water intake. The most important issues related to broiler welfare reported in the last two decades are their growing sensitivity to metabolic and locomotion problems due to the fast growth rates and inactivity. Traditional methods for the determination of gait score include the manual scoring of animal behavior in the broiler house. Recorded video images can also be used for manual scoring of chicken gait score. However, scoring of some animal-based information by human experts and manual methods remain difficult, time consuming and expensive when implemented at farm level. In an effort to objectively detect leg disorders, this study aimed at validating the photogrammetry technique as a non-invasive method for identifying locomotion problems in broilers. Photogrammetry allows determining the geometric properties of broilers from digital photos that are processed and analyzed using a computer software. Results obtained using photogrammetry were tested for their correlation with those obtained by accepted methodologies, including gait score and macroscopic examination of femoral degeneration and tibial dyschondroplasia. The photogrammetry results agreed with the results of the afore mentioned accepted methods.

Web databases of feather photographs are useful tools for avian morphometry studies

“…Once feather images have been taken in a standardized way, feather measurement is straightforward and potentially applicable to new images or to material from less specialized repositories (e.g., Slater Museum, 2020). Photogrammetry of digital images is used routinely in diverse areas of zoology and ecology (Breuer et al., 2007; Mendes et al., 2016; Munge & Athreya, 2020; Rycroft et al., 2013), its simplicity and precision having been demonstrated repeatedly (Ireland et al., 2006; Muñoz‐Muñoz & Perpiñán, 2010; Ortega‐Ortiz et al., 2018). Hence, bearing in mind the anticipated digitalization of museum collections (Medina et al., 2020) and the expected addition of new material to the databases, we may be confident that images from which to obtain precise data on feather dimensions and variability will be available in the medium term for a large proportion of avian species.…”

Effect of Dietary Phytase Supplementation on Bone and Hyaline Cartilage Development of Broilers Fed with Organically Complexed Copper in a Cu-Deficient Diet

“…Adequate Cu intake in poultry production is necessary to not only reach genetically optimal growth but also to maintain proper function of the skeletal system, which is an important mineral source and which provides structural support for well-muscled and fast-growing breeds [ 14 , 25 ]. For this reason, the overloading of long bones could result in locomotion problems that have a negative impact on the performance and welfare of the intensively reared animals and could adversely affect the profitability of livestock production [ 34 ]. Additionally, to prevent other health problems associated with rapid growth, the broilers of the fast-growing breeds are fed restricted amounts of feed, especially during the rearing period [ 35 , 36 ], which can lead to aggressive behavior around feeders [ 37 ].…”

“…The mechanisms for long bone growth are similar across most animal species, but the growth rate is the fastest in the proximal tibia of domestic fowl [ 38 ]. This, in combination with the general weakness of the leg and other leg abnormalities in intensively reared poultry, can deprive the birds of locomotive freedom, leading to suffering, discomfort, fear, and distress during rearing [ 34 ]. The syndromes that cause lameness in the birds of a flock can affect one or several musculoskeletal tissues of a single bird or of the whole flock at the same time [ 39 ].…”

How Are Information Technologies Addressing Broiler Welfare? A Systematic Review Based on the Welfare Quality® Assessment

“…The subcategory "other image analyses" was identified in five publications, corresponding to 8.8% of total. This IT was used to study posture deviations [65], to evaluate appropriate stocking densities in broiler houses [66], and to detect locomotion problems in broiler chickens [67]. In addition to that, image analyses were verified to be part of an automated system to evaluate foot pad dermatitis in slaughterhouses [68] and to help the development of an algorithm to detect sick animals based on their posture [69].…”