First approach validating a scoring system for foot-pad dermatitis in broiler chickens developed for application in practice

Heitmann, Sophia; Stracke, Jenny; Petersen, Henning; Spindler, Birgit; Kemper, Nicole

doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.03.013

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Especially when a scoring system is used by authorities to classify hock burn lesions at slaughter concerning erosions and ulcers, it could be simplified to "healthy" (or "no lesion", macro score 0), "mild lesion" (macro score 1) and "ulcer" (macro scores 2 and above) or even to "healthy" (or "no lesion", macro score 0) and "ulcer" (macro scores 1 and above) with the respective sensitivity of diagnosis. This simplified visual scoring system would also be in line with the suggestion made by Heitmann et al (2018) that visual assessment systems should be simple to use.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…McKeegan (2010) stated that the depths of ulcers were shallow without giving exact measurements. Heitmann et al (2018) measured the depth of foot pad lesions (defined as an increase in the thickness of the skin layer) and measured depths of more than 2500 µm. In the present study, the depth increased with an increasing macro score, up to macro score 3, with an average of 1019 µm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…McKeegan (2010) observed ulcers only in lesions of advanced scores and found a clear correlation between visual and histological scores. Recent publications focused on the histological validation of visual scoring systems for FPD in broilers (Michel et al, 2012;Heitmann et al, 2018) and turkeys (Mayne et al, 2006). A commonly used visual scoring system for hock burn is the scheme presented in the Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for poultry (Welfare Quality®, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Histologically validated scoring system for the assessment of hock burn in broilers

Louton¹,

Piller²,

Bergmann³

et al. 2020

Avian Pathology

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The assessment of bird-based welfare indicators plays an important role in the evaluation of bird welfare. The aim of the study was to histologically validate a visual scoring system for hock burn in broilers and to detect threshold values of a visual score to define welfarerelevant alterations in terms of mild lesions or ulcers of the hock. We collected 200 hocks of 39-to 42-day-old Ross 308 broilers after the slaughter process. Each hock was scored visually ("macro scores" 0-4) and evaluated histologically ("micro scores" 0-3), with high scores representing more severe lesions. Although we found a tendency for higher micro scores with increasing macro scores, an exact allocation of macro to micro scores was not possible. For example, macro score 1 could represent micro scores 1, 2 and 3, whereas macro scores 3 and 4 always represented micro score 3 (ulcer). The conditional probability of certain micro scores for given macro scores was estimated using a multinomial logistic regression model. Ulcer showed the highest probability at macro score 1, whereas mild lesions were not found to have an estimated highest probability at any macro score. The depth of inflammation of hock burn lesions increased with increasing macro scores up to macro score 3 with an average depth of 1019 µm. Visually more severe and deeper lesions were also histologically rated with higher scores. Thus, considering limitations, the herein validated macroscopic assessment scheme for hock burn allows an estimation of histological alterations in hocks of broilers. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS. Histological validation of a visual assessment scheme for hock burn in broilers.. Tendency for higher micro scores with increasing macro scores.. Estimation of histological score via macro score possible with limitations.. Histological depth of inflammation increased with an increasing macro score.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Histologically validated scoring system for the assessment of hock burn in broilers

Louton¹,

Piller²,

Bergmann³

et al. 2020

Avian Pathology

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“…According to a study by Stracke et al (14), there is a link between the occurrence of ulcerations and the size of the lesion on the metatarsal pad, findings which are in agreement with Toppel et al (13). Similar results were observed for broiler chickens (19,20). However, using the standard scoring system of Hocking et al (11), the study by Stracke et al (14) also showed that no differences in severity of ulcerations were found between the higher scoring levels (scoring levels 2, 3, and 4).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Walking on Tiptoes: Digital Pads Deserve Increased Attention When Scoring Footpad Dermatitis as an Animal Welfare Indicator in Turkeys

et al. 2021

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Animal welfare is one of the most challenging issues in modern farm animal husbandry. Animal welfare indicators can be used to monitor welfare on farms or at slaughterhouses, with footpad dermatitis (FPD) being one of the most important indicators used in turkeys. Up to now, the severity of FPD has been measured by evaluating the size of altered lesions on the metatarsal pad of birds. However, such lesions are not only found on the metatarsal pads, but alterations can also occur on the digital pads of the animals, the latter is not included in the European standard scoring systems for turkeys so far. The aim of the present study was to give a detailed outline of alterations on the digital pads of turkeys and associate their occurrence to a standardly used five-point scoring system, which is based on alterations of the metatarsal pad only. Therefore, pictures of 500 feet of turkeys from 16 flocks at the end of the fattening phase were taken, using an automatic camera system. Based on these pictures, alterations on the digits were scored according to different parameters (lesions, swellings, and number of affected digits). Furthermore, detailed measurements were conducted using an imaging software. Results were compared with a standardly used five-point scoring system (standard FPD scoring system), based on the metatarsal pad as reference. Results provide no equivalence in occurrence and severity of alterations on the metatarsal pads compared to those found on the digits. Pathologic alterations on the digits were already present at standard FPD scoring level 0; no differentiation became obvious between the higher scoring levels 2–4. Strong correlations were found when comparing percentage of alterations of the standard FPD scoring system to those of a system including alterations on the digits and the metatarsal pad, using the total foot as a reference (rp = 0.9, p < 0.001). This was the first study conducting a detailed analysis of alterations on the digits of turkeys. In conclusion, results of this study show that including the evaluation of alterations on digits could refine the present FPD scoring system, especially when using FPD as an animal welfare indicator.

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“…This is also in accordance with studies performed on broilers, for example, Greene et al (31), where the development of a severe ulcer in broiler foot pads within <1 week on a previously intact plantar surface was described. Heitmann et al (32) also found ulcerations in a broiler foot pad which received a low score macroscopically. When taking up the assessments of Hocking et al (6) and Spindler (8), it can be assumed that increased macroscopic alterations indicate a deeper lesion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Foot Pad Health as Part of On-Farm-Monitoring in Turkey Flocks

Toppel¹,

Spindler

Kaufmann³

et al. 2019

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Currently, there is no consistent approach to on-farm and post-mortem foot pad (FP) assessment in turkey husbandry in sampling of both feet, sample sizes of birds and scoring schemes during the production period. Therefore, in a field study, 11,400 turkeys, i.e., 22,800 feet, were macroscopically scored at 4-week intervals, 60 birds per flock per date, in accordance with the scale system of Hocking et al. ( 1 ). Spearman's rho was calculated between the foot pad dermatitis (FPD) score of both feet of an individual turkey. Sample size for FPD monitoring was calculated for several flock sizes, considering expected FPD prevalence and the error and confidence level (α = 0.01, 0.05, 0.1). To compare macroscopic to histological findings, ten excised FPs were histopathologically investigated by hematoxylin & eosin staining. To align manual macroscopic FPD evaluations with a technical system, 20 photographic images of FPD were measured using the ImageJ program. The scores of both feet of an individual turkey correlated between r = 0.252 and r = 1.000. Thus, both feet of a bird should be monitored, while the worse foot should be evaluated. As an exemplary sample size for on-farm FPD assessment, 77 turkey poults were calculated in a flock of 4,000 birds with an expected FPD prevalence of 40% and α = 0.1. The sample size of monitored birds within a flock should differ and depend on flock size and expected FPD prevalence. Histopathological findings showed normal and non-affected structures of a macroscopic Score 0 and a moderate ulcer of the macroscopic Score 1 and Score 2. The applied assessment scheme should distinguish first alterations and scar tissue as separate scores to differentiate the need for management intervention vs. the success of management measures that were already implemented. FPD affected areas were given lower Scores and assessed to be healthier when evaluated by an image system, compared to a manual assessment. Furthermore, with regard to an increase in camera-based assessments, the boundary of the metatarsal pad needs to be clarified. In conclusion, a new scoring system is required, as the size of the FP cannot be clearly defined and different tissue textures, as well as valid sample sizes are not currently sufficiently considered.

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First approach validating a scoring system for foot-pad dermatitis in broiler chickens developed for application in practice

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

Histologically validated scoring system for the assessment of hock burn in broilers

Histologically validated scoring system for the assessment of hock burn in broilers

Walking on Tiptoes: Digital Pads Deserve Increased Attention When Scoring Footpad Dermatitis as an Animal Welfare Indicator in Turkeys

Foot Pad Health as Part of On-Farm-Monitoring in Turkey Flocks

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