The Effect of Wire Pens, Floor Pens and Cages on Bone Characteristics of Laying Hens

Rowland, L. O.; Harms, R. H.

doi:10.3382/ps.0491223

Cited by 44 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In both experiments humerus breaking strength was less in caged hens, as shown previously (Rowland et al, 19686;Rowland and Harms, 1970;Meyer and Sunde, 1974). The results also show that vigorous wing movements are rarely performed by caged hens, as also reported by Bareham (1972) and Black and Hughes (1974).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Bone strength of laying hens kept in an alternative system, compared with hens in cages and on deep‐litter

Nørgaard-Nielsen

1990

British Poultry Science

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1. Observations of vigorous wing movements and measurements of bone strength were compared in two experiments with birds in three different housing systems: a semi-intensive alternative system under development, a battery cage system and a deep-litter system. 2. A significant effect of housing system on the frequency of vigorous wing movements was found. The highest frequency was seen in the deep-litter system, about half this number in the alternative system, while in the battery cages they were never observed. 3. Corresponding to this a reduction in humerus strength of 9% was found in hens from the alternative system and of 45% in hens from cages, compared with deep-litter. A reduction in tibial breaking strength was also found in caged hens, when compared to deep-litter hens. 4. Keeping hens in cages thus restricts their movements, especially wing movements, to the degree that bone strength is greatly reduced. 5. This has welfare implications, for hens with low bone breaking strength risk a possibility of breakage, especially when handled and transported. When alternative systems are designed opportunities for movement in the three dimensions should be considered.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Bone strength of laying hens kept in an alternative system, compared with hens in cages and on deep‐litter

Nørgaard-Nielsen

1990

British Poultry Science

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“…Bone strength of caged layers in other studies was significantly correlated with the percentage of bone ash (Rowland et al, 1968). Later Rowland and Harms (1970) observed lower bone strength and percentage of bone ash in caged hens than in those on die floor. In 1974, Ferguson et al supplemented the diet of caged layers with portland cement or sodium bicarbonate to determine its effect upon bone strength.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

The Effect of Sodium Fluoride on Egg Production, Egg Quality, and Bone Strength of Caged Layers

Merkley¹

1981

Poultry Science

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The development of bone fragility in caged layers is a major problem in the poultry industry. The incidence of bone breakage during the processing of spent hens substantially reduces the economic return from these birds. In two trials, a commercial strain of White Leghorn pullets was used. In each trial, one-day-old chicks were divided into two groups, wing banded, and placed in floor pens. The treated group received fluoridated water at levels up to 300 ppm. The control group of birds received only well water. At 20 weeks of age, birds from each group were transferred to one of two laying batteries. One battery of birds received fluoridated water (100 ppm F). The other served as a control and those birds received only well water. Production rate, egg weight, shell strength, shell thickness, and Haugh units were determined for each bird. At 45 weeks of age, the humeri and tibiae were removed, and bone strength, percentage of bone ash, and fluoride content were determined. Combined data from both trials showed that the fluoride treatment increased the breaking strength of humeri from 6.86 to 13.35 kg and that of tibiae from 6.61 to 13.10 kg. The fluoride treatment also significantly (P less than .01) increased the percentage of bone ash. Egg quality and rate of production were not reduced by the fluoride treatment.

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“…Exercise (Riddell, 1989) and environmental factors such as cage size and design (Rowland & Harms, 1970) have been shown by some to result in small improvements in the breaking strengths of bones from hens, but conflicting results have been produced by others (Harner & Wilson, 1985). The provision of perches within cages during lay (18 to 72 weeks of age) resulted in greater structural bone volumes at the end of lay, but these birds were still found to be osteoporctic (Wilson et al, 1993).…”

Section: Adults Selected For Egg Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Skeletal disorders in the fowl: A review

Thorp

1994

Avian Pathology

127

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SUMMARYSelection pressure for production traits in modern lines of poultry has placed increasing demands on skeletal integrity. Disruption of the normal process of skeletal growth and homeostasis results in bone diseases that are manifest throughout the modern poultry industry. Bone conditions in poultry can be grouped under three headings based on the age and type of fowls affected, and are indicative of the genetic and production stresses applied to the skeleton. In broilers during growth it is primarily pathologies of the growth plate that lead to most skeletal disorders. In broiler and turkey breeding stock the progressive degeneration of the articular cartilage results in osteoarthrosis, lameness and a consequential loss of reproductive performance. In laying hens bone fragility is most frequently the result of osteoporosis. Before attempting to determine the aetiology of a skeletal disorder an accurate diagnosis must be made. Only then can short-and long-term strategies be developed for the prevention and control of skeletal disorders. Diagnosis requires gross and histological examination, and also dietary, environmental and management analyses. The pathology often reflects lesions initiated when the bird was considerably younger and analyses must extend to assessing the factors prevalent during the initiation of lesions. Current studies are furthering the understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of avian skeletal disorders. For example, structural bone loss at the onset of follicular activity before egg-laying is pivotal to the development of osteoporosis in layers and deficiencies in growth factor expression are integral to the development of tibial dyschondroplasia.

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The Effect of Wire Pens, Floor Pens and Cages on Bone Characteristics of Laying Hens

Cited by 44 publications

References 3 publications

Bone strength of laying hens kept in an alternative system, compared with hens in cages and on deep‐litter

Bone strength of laying hens kept in an alternative system, compared with hens in cages and on deep‐litter

The Effect of Sodium Fluoride on Egg Production, Egg Quality, and Bone Strength of Caged Layers

Skeletal disorders in the fowl: A review

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