Effects of Light and Feeding Space on Leg Abnormalities in Broilers

Wilson, Jeffrey J.; Weaver, W. D.; Beane, W. L.; Cherry, J. A.

doi:10.3382/ps.0630565

Cited by 62 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This suggests that slower early growth rate may not be the only factor responsible for reduced skeletal disease. Broiler lighting programmes with periods of darkness, both of the increasing and intermittent type result in fewer leg abnormalities than continuous light (Buckland et al, 1973(Buckland et al, , 1976Simmons, 1982;Robbins et al, 1984;Wilson et al, 1984;Classen and Riddell, 1989). It is possible that metabolic changes occurring during darkness (Aschoff and Pohl, 1970;Aschoff and Saint Paul, 1976;Decuypere and Kuhn, 1984;Luijtelaar et al, 1987) may benefit skeletal growth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Shorter day-length improves bird health and reduces stress but also results in slower growth rate than continuous light (Freeman et al, 1981;Robbins et al, 1984;Whitley et ah, 1984). Intermittent lighting programmes, which utilise repeated light and dark periods within a normal 24 h day have also been shown to improve bird health while maintaining equal or superior growth and food conversion to birds given continuous 22 H. L. CLASSEN, C. RIDDELL AND F. E. ROBINSON light (Buckland et al, 1971(Buckland et al, , 1973(Buckland et al, , 1976Ononiwu et al, 1979;Malone et al, 1980a, b;Wilson et al, 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of increasing photoperiod length on performance and health of broiler chickens

Classen

Riddell

Robinson

1991

British Poultry Science

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Broiler performance and health were compared from 0 to 42 d for lighting programmes consisting of near-continuous light 23L:1D (23L), a lighting programme where photoperiod gradually increased from 6 to 23 h between days 4 and 35 (INC) or an increasing-lighting programme with 1 h of light mid-way through the scotophase (INC + 1). 2. The increasing lighting programmes reduced growth rate and increased gain:food ratio from 0 to 21 d; INC + 1 growth rate was intermediate to the 23 L and INC treatments. From 0 to 42 d there were no differences in growth rate or gain:food ratio among lighting treatments. Males grew faster, ate more food and converted food more efficiently than females. 3. The increasing-lighting programmes (INC and INC + 1) resulted in less skeletal disease than the 23L control. The incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS) and mortality other than SDS were numerically lower for the increasing lighting treatments. More males died as a result of SDS and were affected by skeletal defects than females. 4. In terms of health, increasing lighting programmes were superior to near-continuous light for broiler chickens.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of increasing photoperiod length on performance and health of broiler chickens

Classen

Riddell

Robinson

1991

British Poultry Science

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Simmons (1982) observed 17 lower incidence of twisted legs in chickens reared in intermittent light (IL) vs. continuous light (CL) and also that total daily bird activity, as measured by radar waves, was greater in IL than CL. Wilson et al (1984) found fewer and less severe leg abnormalities in IL vs. CL and stated that "birds given IL were much more active when the lights were on," whereas those provided CL were very docile. However, no quantitative data on activity were provided.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In growing boars, those subjected to enforced~exercise on a treadmill exhibited a lower incidence of leg ahnnrmalitiVs than controls (Perrin and BowlandJJ???). Simmons (1982) and Wilson et al (1984) postulated that effects of light treatments on the incidence of leg disorders in broilers jwere related to differences' in activity under the different treatments. Simmons (1982) observed 17 lower incidence of twisted legs in chickens reared in intermittent light (IL) vs. continuous light (CL) and also that total daily bird activity, as measured by radar waves, was greater in IL than CL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Alternating Lights and Strain on Behavior and Leg Disorders of Roaster Chickens

1985

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of light treatment and strain on movement, spacial distribution, activity, and incidence of leg disorders of 4 to 10-week-old male chickens were examined in two experiments. In both, an alternating light treatment, in which high-intensity light alternated from one side of the barn to the other against a background of low intensity light, was compared with a control light treatment of continuous low intensity light supplied to both sides of the barn. Two strains were tested in each experiment. In Experiment 1, chickens responded to the alternating light between 4 and 7 weeks of age, although not between 7 and 10 weeks of age, by moving into areas of relatively high intensity light. In Experiment 2, chickens responded during both periods by moving into areas of relatively low intensity light. Bird distribution was also affected by a geographical side preference. In both experiments, activity was higher in areas of high vs. low light intensity, higher under alternating than control light, and higher for younger than older birds (P less than .05). Activity was also influenced by strain (P less than .01). Incidence of leg disorders was influenced by strain (P less than .01) but not light treatment.

show abstract

“…For example, one of the most common commercial treatments for ascites reduction is feed restriction Arce et al, 1992;Acar et al, 1995;Balog et al, 2000a). Other management techniques used in an attempt to reduce ascites involve intermittent lightingyactivity programs (Buckland, 1975;Ononiwu et al, 1979;Simons, 1982;Wilson et al, 1984;Classen and Riddell, 1989;Renden et al, 1991;Balog et al, 1997). The intermittent lightingyactivity programs cause the broilers to engage in more non-feeding activity or cause them to refrain from all activity including eating, during intermittent time periods, which results in a decreased growth rate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ascites Syndrome (Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome) in Broiler Chickens: Are We Seeing the Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Balog¹

2003

Avian & Poul. Biolog. Rev.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ascites syndrome in broilers is a cascade of events that result in cardiac anomalies including an enlarged, flaccid heart, and right ventricular hypertrophy, as well as an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Ascites was first noticed as a problem for commercial poultry producers, at farms that were located at high altitudes. Within the last 3 decades, however, ascites has become a significant problem for producers everywhere. Ascites fluid accumulation can be caused by many different factors. There are four general categories of dysfunctions that will result in ascites fluid build-up: (1) vascular damage that allows capillaries to leak; (2) blockage of the lymphatic system that prevents drainage; (3) decreased plasma oncotic pressure; and the most frequently seen dysfunction, (4) increased vascular hydraulic pressure. Increased vascular hydraulic pressure can be caused by several types of pathologies including hepatic, cardiac or right atrioventricular, and the most significant, pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension accounts for most cases of ascites seen in commercial broilers, yet the hypertension can originate from many different causes. Environmental causes such as altitude, cold stress and incubator environment will affect the incidence of ascites. Management also plays a significant role in ascites development, for example; feed, lighting, air quality and ventilation have all been implicated in ascites development. Anatomy and physiology of the modern broiler also influences the incidence of ascites. Growth rate, oxygen requirements, organ size and capacity, hematological parameters and cellular responses can all determine how resistant or susceptible a broiler is to ascites. All of these factors cause ascites by inducing hypoxia in the bird (Julian, 1987(Julian, , 1988.The bird's demand for oxygen exceeds its cardiopulmonary capacity resulting in pulmonary hypertension. One final area that not only greatly influences, but also has potential to end ascites syndrome, is the area of genetic selection. In the past, a lot of the blame for our current ascites situation has been placed on poultry breeding and genetic selection for rapid growth, high meat yield and good feed conversion.While genetic selection may have exacerbated the ascites problem, it is also our best solution for eliminating this disorder in the near future.The selection of ascites resistant lines of broilers not only provides birds that can be raised at their maximal growth rate, it also provides a population in which to determine the exact molecular basis for ascites and pulmonary hypertension.

show abstract

Effects of Light and Feeding Space on Leg Abnormalities in Broilers

Cited by 62 publications

References 4 publications

Effects of increasing photoperiod length on performance and health of broiler chickens

Effects of increasing photoperiod length on performance and health of broiler chickens

Effect of Alternating Lights and Strain on Behavior and Leg Disorders of Roaster Chickens

Ascites Syndrome (Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome) in Broiler Chickens: Are We Seeing the Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About