Effects of the housing environment and laying hen strain on tibia and femur bone properties of different laying phases of Hy-Line hens

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of the housing environment and laying hen strain on tibia and femur properties. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of 3 housing environments (conventional cages [ CC ], enriched colony cages [ EC ], and free range [ FR ]) and 2 laying hen strains (Hy-Line W-36 [ W-36 ] and Hy-Line Brown [ HB ]) in a completely randomized design was conducted from 32 to 85 wk of age. Six left tibias were collected at 8 different time points (38, 45, 52, 59, 65, 72, 79, and 85 wk of age), whereas 6 left femurs were collected at 3 time points (38, 65, and 85 wk of age). Tibias were evaluated for tibia breaking strength ( TBS ) and ash percentage, whereas femurs were evaluated for bone mineral density ( BMD ), bone mineral content, bone volume as a fraction tissue volume, and porosity percentage from total, cortical, medullary, and trabecular bones. The higher TBS ( P = 0.0005) and ash percentage ( P = 0.045) was observed in hens raised in FR systems compared with those raised in the CC. Overall, TBS of W-36 hens was significantly greater than that of HB hens ( P < 0.0001); however, there was no difference in the ash percentage between the strains ( P > 0.05). An interaction between the housing environment and hen strain was observed for BMD ( P = 0.04), wherein W-36 hens raised in the FR system had higher BMD than HB hens. Similarly, hens raised in FR systems had higher trabecular bone volume than those raised in CC ( P = 0.022). Hen strain influenced total and cortical bone properties: BMD, bone volume as a fraction tissue volume, and porosity percentage, wherein W-36 hens had better properties than HB hens ( P < 0.05). Trabecular BMD was higher in W-36 hens than in HB hens ( P = 0.04), whereas bone volume was higher in HB hens ( P < 0.0001). The results suggest that raising laying hens in alternative housing systems that have provision for exercise such as FR reduces structural bone loss, stimulate structural bone formation, and improve breaking strength of bones; however, it varies with the strain.

Laying hens under smallholder conditions: laying performance, growth and bone quality of tibia and femur including essential elements

“…Moreover, the content of dry matter and ash in tibia bone was studied by Yalcin et al (2001) , who analyzed the effect of strain in broiler chickens and concluded that this factor significantly influenced the content of dry matter and ash. Sharma et al (2021) found the same results in the effect of genotype on tibia ash content (nonsignificant effect of genotype). However, for femur bones, the ash content was calculated as significant among the genotypes.…”

“…Considering the bone quality, scientific literature often focuses on the effect of nutrition ( Świątkiewicz et al, 2010 ) or housing system ( Tactacan et al, 2009 ). However, several studies, such as ( Riczu et al, 2004 ; Sharma et al, 2021 ), observed the effect of genotype. Sharma et al (2021) observed the genotype's effect on quality properties of the tibia bone, also confirmed that genotype significantly influenced bone length and fracture toughness.…”

“…However, several studies, such as ( Riczu et al, 2004 ; Sharma et al, 2021 ), observed the effect of genotype. Sharma et al (2021) observed the genotype's effect on quality properties of the tibia bone, also confirmed that genotype significantly influenced bone length and fracture toughness. Unlike our study, the authors did not confirm the significant effect of genotype on tibia weight, which can be attributed to comparing different genotypes between the studies.…”

Environmental Enrichments in Laying Hen Production Systems with Emphasis on Welfare and Egg Quality

“…Hofmann et al (2020) stated that the housing environment potentially impacts the immune system of hens but recommended that the choice of an environmental enrichment in the production system should be determined according to the particular need of hens. Sharma et al (2021) suggested that housing environment has a profound influence on bone strength though it varies between strains. Li et al (2021) emphasized that environmental enrichments in laying hen housing system potentially decrease the damages associated with stress during their transportation (e.g., from growing to egg production pens, to slaughter plants).…”

The use of sprouted barley grain in the diet of meat hens of the parent herd

“…In the Belgorod region, crosses of foreign selection are used at all industrial enterprises. These crosses differ in production, but the consumer's demand is also taken into account here [1,2].…”