Assessing locomotion deficiency in broiler chicken

Abstract

Locomotion deficiencies in broiler production cause poor welfare and lead to change in drinking and feeding behavior with consequent loss in weight gain. This research aimed to assess locomotion deficiencies in broiler chicken by analyzing the vertical peak force on both feet during walk. A chamber was built with an inlet ramp, a horizontal walkway in the middle and an outlet ramp. In the walkway a thin mat with piezoelectric crystal sensors was placed to record the step vertical peak force of the feet while walking on the force platform. The measurement system consisted of a mat with electronic sensors and software that allowed real time recording of the forces and the processing and analysis of data. Footage was taken from two digital video cameras and used for gait scoring. Forty male broilers were chosen at random, grown under similar rearing conditions and farms, with age varying from 49 to 28 days (ten birds of same age) to be used in the trial. Measurement consisted of inducing the bird to walk on the force platform which automatically registered the peak vertical force of the steps. Results showed that the gait score increased with the weight and age of the birds. Peak force asymmetry was found for each foot, independent of age or gait score. Although not identified visually in the broilers, the peak vertical force values differed in both right and left feet leading to slow and uneven walking. Walking deficiency was more severe in older birds. Key words: poultry production, gait scoring, feet force measurement, welfare Medida de deficiência locomotora em frango de corte RESUMO: Deficiência em locomoção é hoje um dos problemas mais importantes na produção de frangos de corte. É causa de baixo bem-estar e leva a alteração no comportamento de bebida e alimentação, com conseqüente perda de ganho de peso. Mediram-se deficiências locomotoras em frango de corte por meio da análise do pico de força plantar vertical em ambas as patas, durante a caminhada. Foi construída uma câmara com uma rampa de entrada, uma área horizontal de passagem e uma rampa de saída. Na parte horizontal da área de passagem foi colocado um tapete fino, com elementos sensores de cristal piezoelétrico, para registrar o pico de força vertical das patas do frango quando este caminhava sobre a plataforma. O sistema de mensuração consistiu de um tapete com sensores eletrônicos e um programa computacional que permitiu o registro de forças em tempo real e o processamento e a análise de dados. Imagens de vídeo foram tomadas a partir de duas câmeras digitais para atribuir o gait score. Quarenta frangos machos foram aleatoriamente selecionados em condições similares de alojamento e da mesma granja, com idade variando de 49 a 28 dias (dez de cada idade) e usados no experimento. A medida consistiu em induzir a ave a caminhar sobre a plataforma de força que automaticamente registrava o pico de força da passada. O gait score aumentou com o peso e a idade das aves. Foi encontrada assimetria nos picos de força da cada pata, independente da idade...

Use of vitamin D to reduce lameness in broilers reared in harsh environments

“…The MatScan® pressure measurement system (Tekscan, Inc, South Boston, MA, USA) was used to determine the resulting force distribution as a percentage of the body weight (Nääs et al, 2010). The pressure mat was connected to a computer where data were recorded, saved, and processed using a software program (MatScan® -Clinical foot version 5.72).…”

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

“…Image technologies have been used to evaluate broiler behaviour under different light intensities [29], under different thermal conditions [27,30], under distinct stocking densities [31,32], under different gait scores [33], and during their slaughter [34,35]. Additionally, digital video recording was used to help the development of methods and algorithms to detect lameness in broiler chickens [36][37][38][39][40][41][42] and to analyse behaviour of isolated chicks [43]. It was also used to assess short-term feeding behaviours [44] and to analyse possible changes in behaviour of animals using a tag to monitor their movement [45].…”

“…This IT was identified in three papers (5.3% of total publications). The force-measurement platform was part of the IT that aimed to study the walking ability of broiler chickens [40][41][42]. In a similar way, kinematic technologies, which were present in two publications (3.5% of total publications), were also utilized to study gait abnormalities by producing and analysing 3D images [56] and by utilizing a system that involved the use of a force-measurement platform [42].…”

Automated Step Detection in Inertial Measurement Unit Data From Turkeys

“…In recent years, sensor technologies have been introduced in livestock production, and some of them are well suited for objective locomotion scoring like force platforms, cameras, and accelerometers. Force platform systems have been used for locomotion phenotyping in experimental setups (Pastell et al, 2006;Nääs et al, 2010;Maertens et al, 2011;Pluym et al, 2013), but applications on farms are limited because they are expensive and require frequent maintenance. Cameras are upcoming tools in cattle and pigs, with the advantage that they do not disturb the animal (Kashiha et al, 2014;Viazzi et al, 2014;Kuan et al, 2019).…”