Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (Gallus gallus)—A Pilot Study

Kittelsen, Käthe Elise; Jensen, Per; Christensen, Jens Peter; Toftaker, Ingrid; Moe, Randi Oppermann; Vasdal, Guro

doi:10.3390/ani10091655

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…This is in accordance with Fleming et al (2004), one of the few studies that previously investigated keel bones from roosters [ 30 ]. It is also in accordance with findings in red jungle fowl roosters [ 15 ]. The lack of KBF in male specimens supports the speculation that KBF is linked to egg laying [ 16 , 33 ]; however further studies are needed to examine keel bones in roosters since the literature is sparse.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Several fractures of the keel in the same bird is not uncommon [ 14 ]. In contrast, a recent pilot study of the ancestor of modern layers, the red jungle fowl ( Gallus gallus gallus ), found a much lower prevalence [ 15 ]. KBF have been found to a varying degree in all major commercial production systems, barren and furnished cages, non-cage systems and organic production [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other side, selection for other traits, such as bone strength, may reduce the risk of KBF [ 34 ]. Besides one investigation of keel bones from the red jungle fowl [ 15 ], reports on KBF in non-commercial laying hen breeds are lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Descriptive Study of Keel Bone Fractures in Hens and Roosters from Four Non-Commercial Laying Breeds Housed in Furnished Cages

Kittelsen

Moe

Hansen

et al. 2020

Animals

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The presence of keel bone fractures (KBF) in laying hens has been documented and discussed by several authors, nevertheless the causative factors behind KBF remain uncertain. High prevalence of KBF have been reported in all commercial egg production systems, in different genetic lines and at different ages. Several of the proposed causal mechanisms behind KBF are linked to selection for efficient production. It is, therefore, of interest to explore whether less selected breeds have a lower occurrence of keel bone fractures compared to reports from highly selected, modern laying hen breeds. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate keel bones of hens from four non-commercial layer breeds. Birds were housed in furnished cages and keel bones examined at 30 and 63 weeks of age, using a portable X-ray equipment. The results from this descriptive study indicate a low prevalence of KBF at both ages in all four breeds, with only five KBF detected in 213 X-ray pictures taken from 126 birds. Of these, four of the KBF were observed in the most genetically selected breed, with an early onset of lay. None of the roosters examined exhibited KBF. The overall low numbers of KBF found indicate that genetic factors may be involved in KBF and, thus that selective breeding may help to reduce the susceptibility to KBF. Finally, this study highlights the importance of poultry conservation to secure genetic diversity, which may be an important resource in future selection schemes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Descriptive Study of Keel Bone Fractures in Hens and Roosters from Four Non-Commercial Laying Breeds Housed in Furnished Cages

Kittelsen

Moe

Hansen

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…Only one previous publication has investigated keel bones from Red jungle fowls, which reports that KBF were less prevalent in Red jungle fowl hens housed in a research facility [25] as compared to reported prevalences in commercial layer hybrids. The prevalence of KBF in Red jungle fowl hens compared to more selected breeds housed under identical conditions will give important information on the genetic component in KBF.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…There are different aspects of egg production that may be linked to KBF including a high number of eggs produced per hen [15], early onset of lay [23] and an immature keel during top egg production [24]. The negative impact of egg production on KBF development is supported by the fact that fractures are not observed in roosters [25,26] or in hens treated with hormones to prevent egg laying [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Keel bone fractures are more prevalent in White Leghorn hens than in Red Jungle fowl hens—A pilot study

et al. 2021

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Fractures and deviations to the keel bone are common in commercial laying hens, with reported variations in occurrence across strains and breeds. The aetiology is not fully understood, however, modern genetics and selection for efficient egg production has been claimed to be important factors for the keel bone fractures. To explore this further, we investigated keel bones from two different breeds, representing different degrees of selection for egg production: Red jungle fowl (n = 82), and White Leghorn (n = 32), where the latter is a selected laying breed which is the origin for many modern laying hen hybrids. Keel bones from a total of 116 birds, 53 hens and 63 roosters, were examined by necropsy at 80 weeks of age. All birds were raised in modified aviaries in the same holding facility. Overall, 24.5% of the hens had one or more fractures to the keel, with a difference in the prevalence between hens from the two breeds (p<0.01): 10% (95% CI: 3.7–24%) in the Red Jungle fowl hens and 69% (95% CI: 37–90%) in the White Leghorn hens. No roosters, regardless of breed, had keel bone fractures. Mild to moderate keel bone deviations were present in 54% (95% CI: 25–80%) of the hens and 4.7% (95% CI: 0.5–30%) of the roosters, all White Leghorns.

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Shape and fractures of carina sterni in chicken genotypes with different egg deposition rates reared indoor or free-range

Pulcini,

Mattioli,

Angelucci

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Commercial laying hens have high frequency of damage to the keel bone (KB), which causes negative effects on health and welfare. KB damage may consist in fractures (KBF) and deviations (KBD). The aim of the present study was to compare the KB shape, by means of Geometric Morphometric, and the occurrence of fractures in different chicken genotypes reared either free-range (FR) or in enriched cages. Moreover, the relationship between KB shape, genotype and rearing system was analysed. Sixty birds/genotype (2 Italian local breeds, Bionda Piemontese and Robusta Maculata, their crossbreeds with Sasso and Lohmann Brown) were used. All the hens fed the same commercial feed throughout the trial. Body weight, egg production, feed intake and mortality were recorded from 25 to 66 weeks of age. Ca intake (IN) and output (OUT) were estimated and Ca OUT/IN was calculated. FR affected the occurrence of KB deviations but not the shape, whereas the fractures were mainly affected by genotype. Local breeds had a lower prevalence of KBF with similar level of KBD but with different shapes. Crossbreeds seemed to be a suitable compromise between egg deposition rate and occurrence of KB damages.

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Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (Gallus gallus)—A Pilot Study

Cited by 9 publications

References 36 publications

A Descriptive Study of Keel Bone Fractures in Hens and Roosters from Four Non-Commercial Laying Breeds Housed in Furnished Cages

A Descriptive Study of Keel Bone Fractures in Hens and Roosters from Four Non-Commercial Laying Breeds Housed in Furnished Cages

Keel bone fractures are more prevalent in White Leghorn hens than in Red Jungle fowl hens—A pilot study

Shape and fractures of carina sterni in chicken genotypes with different egg deposition rates reared indoor or free-range

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