Tibiotarsus bone characteristics and tibial dyschondroplasia incidence of broilers fed diets supplemented with leucine and valine

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of standardized ileal digestible (SID) leucine and valine levels on tibiotarsus bone characteristics and the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia of broilers from day 1 to 21 (Experiment I) and day 21 to 42 post-hatch (Experiment II). Each experimental phase was evaluated independently. In both experiments, a total of 1,500 one-day-old Cobb 500 male broiler chickens were distributed in a completely randomized design 5 × 5 factorial arrangement for a total of 25 treatments. The SID leucine and valine levels were ranged from 10.0 to 19.6 g/kg, and 6.0 to 12.0 g/kg from day 1 to 21 post-hatch, respectively, while day 21 to 42 post-hatch ranged from 10.0 to 18.0 g leucine/kg, and 5.2 to 11.2 g valine/kg. Serum calcium and phosphorus, bone concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and ash, diameter and Seedor index of the tibiotarsus were not affected (p > .05) by the treatments at 21 or 42 days of age. There was an interaction (p ≤.06) between the SID levels of leucine and valine on tibiotarsus breaking strength at 21 days, but not at 42 days of age (p > .05). Tibiotarsus breaking strength was maximized in broilers from day 1 to 21 with the dietary levels of leucine and valine at 14.2 and 9.0 g/kg respectively. Dietary leucine levels reduced linearly (p < .05) the hypertrophic zone of tibiotarsus cartilage at 21 days of age. Therefore, leucine and valine supplementation interact positively on bone strength of broilers from day 1 to 21 post-hatch. Leucine can be a useful amino acid for reducing the hypertrophic cartilage zone in broilers from day 1 to 21, but not from day 21 to 42 post-hatch.

Dietary supplementation with glycosaminoglycans reduces locomotor problems in broiler chickens

“…Areas of tibial growth plate zones have been used to study the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia in broiler chickens ( Oviedo-Rondón et al., 2001 ; Franco et al., 2004 ; Ospina-Rojas et al., 2018 ). Tian et al.…”

Bacillus subtilis-Based Probiotic Improves Skeletal Health and Immunity in Broiler Chickens Exposed to Heat Stress

“…In addition, the unnatural growth rate of leg bones, coupled with a large breast muscle (a high muscle-to-bone ratio) puts enormous compression on the immature skeleton and adds excessive torque and shear stress, causing bone deformities and mechanical trauma (e.g., microfracture and cleft formation) on the cartilaginous growth plates of the proximal leg bone, such as the tibial dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis). Tibial dyschondroplasia is the most commonly observed non-infectious leg injury and is characterized by a mass of avascular cartilage in the metaphasis of the proximal ends of the tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus [ 100 , 101 ]. In addition, mechanical trauma-induced chronic low-grade damage of the tibia and femur, a subclinical incidence of damage, provides a portal of entry for various bacteria, leading to bone inflammation and infection, such as bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis.…”

Understanding the interactive effects of dietary leucine with isoleucine and valine in the modern commercial broiler

“…Recent developments in feed grade manufacturing of L-Val, and to a lesser extent L-Ile, have resulted in prices that allow for more feasible use in feed formulation. Subsequently, interest has grown to better understand how all BCAA interact with one another under commercial conditions, not only in poultry ( Ospina-Rojas et al, 2017 ; Ospina-Rojas et al, 2018 ; Zeitz et al, 2019 ; Ospina-Rojas et al, 2020 ) but other monogastric species as well ( Cemin et al, 2019 ).…”

“…While the interrelationship of these 3 amino acids have been demonstrated previously, their effects on growth performance of broilers are variable ( D'Mello and Lewis, 1970 ; Farran and Thomas, 1990 ; Barbour and Latshaw, 1992 ; Burnham et al, 1992 ; Waldroup et al, 2002 ; Zeitz et al, 2019 ; Ospina-Rojas et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, all recent BCAA interaction works have employed in one genotype ( Waldroup et al, 2002 ; Ospina-Rojas et al, 2017 , 2018 , 2020 ; Zeitz et a., 2019 ). Therefore, it is crucial to uncover how this interaction affects a different genotype with different growth rates, feed conversion, and yielding capabilities.…”