Hi all, I´m working in a poultry farm including both broiler and layers. Lately, we have observed lameness in broiler chickens between age of 2 weeks up to 3 weeks with a prevalence of 3% with higher prevalence in customer level, what do you think about the causes of this lameness?
Being lameness noted in both broiler and layer chicks, the following factors may be causing it:
1 Disease AE breeder vaccination ,Chicken anemia, Reo 2 Nutritional Calcium Phos source like DCP or MCP or feed contamination bacterial, Mycotoxin etc. Thirum pioson level in Maize etc 3 Hatchery incubation like humidity and Temperature variations , hatchery contamination Stap etc. 4.Hot and humid brooding conditions where in feed consumption is suboptimal
Could you check the level of Calcium in the Prestarter? It could be very high, more than 1%. Could you try to use less than 1%? and maybe the calcium source from marine origen? Also try using less phosphorus, maybe it could be higher.
There could be many factors that cause the same problem. It could also be related to hatchery temperature, feed especially premix or a bacterial infection.
beding can cause lamness caked bedding wet bediing leading to pododermatitis and also this will cause athritis due bacterial and viral infection.nutrition like vitamin d, calcium and phosphorus phosphorus defience and mycotoxins then dychrondoplasia
It may be due to vertical transmitted MS. If that is ruled out,then check the phosphorous level in prestarter and starter feeds. CAV and Reo vaccines in Breeder stock should be mon
Thanks, all
But bear in mind that the lameness was only happened in broiler after they feeding in the same feed with layer( for experiment only) then the broilers show lameness but not in layers, have any experiences happen related to ours.
it's primarily because of Ca/P deficiency. to recover the problem you can check the quality of raw material in use, or you may also be using phytases with wrong specs. or even you should check it at mixing level either it's being mixed improperly
You do not say anything about the nature of the lameness. Are the joints affected? THe feet? The muscles? Has any histopathology been done? Do you have eccess to any laboratory that could undertake satisfactory follow up to determine the cause?
If an obvious nutritional component has been ruled out, reovirus should be assessed by histopathology and virus isolation. Collect tendon groups and heart for histopathology; the same tissue can be used for virus isolation or PCR.
There are so many factors may cause lameness including, nutritional deficiency, slipped tendon, mycoplasma synoviae, Marek's and managemental factors like dampness of litter etc.
Dear Fikreslsie dawit ,
Causes of lameness could be attributed to bacterial chondronecrosis and osteomyelitis ( entry of pathogenic through gut and then localisation in bone plate of femur and tibia mediated by feed toxins . Testing of Dicalcium Phosphate for bacterial contamination and fungi is inevitable if it is sourced from animal origin ( Bone based DCP harbouring Clostridia E coli and bacillus ) and for fluorine toxicity if from rock phosphate . Also analyse microbial contamination of animal protein sources used in feeds .These recommendations are based on ruling out the possibilities of other cuases of lameness ( Infectious , Nutritional and Management origins )
Thanks
Dr Rakesh Nimbalkar
Comsultant - Poultry Nutritionist
Polchem Hygiene Laboratories Private Limited
Pune
HiEvery body;I think we must knew firstly this lameness appear at what age and all circumstances par example lameness causes -muscles affection or nerve affection or joints affection bone affection -----------------for muscles white muscles diseases-A,E diseases ND Merck etc--------------------------------------------------------- ---calcium deficiencies-vitamin d deficiencies -calcium phosphorus ratio ----nutritional causes.
joint affection as sending or dis sending-staphylococci-mycoplasma synovie--
Dear Dr,
I think you need to state clearly the nature of lameness you are dealing with. For example,
1. which part of the chicken is affected?, the joints? (coxofemural, hock, tarsometatarsal),
2. are the affected areas swollen or not?
3. is the lameness unilateral or bilateral?
Let me suggest a list of differentials
1. Reoviral arthritis
2. Avian streptococcosis
3. Avian staphylococcosis
4. Pullorum disease
5. Femural head necrosis
Nutritional deficiency: calcium-phosphorus in balance
Thanks.
Lameness is a persistent problem in broiler flock, mainly faced after 2nd week of age. It is a multidimensional problem, if feed is not the cause then the 2nd possible cause is infectious & 3rd is managemental, but it become worse when it is infectious with poor husbandry. Sometimes lower brooding temperature is also invovled in lameness at early age, or some time over weight too, but if management is appropriate then lameness is not a big problem for flock.
Lameness in broiler chickens is becoming a common problem mostly associated with genetic selection for rapid growth, management and infection. Bone and Joint infection as well skeletal abnormalities as linked with fast in growth during the first weeks of life. Rapid weight gain causes excessive torque and shear forces at the articular surface of the femur, tibia and the free thoracic vertebra in particular and this predisposes bird to injury and infection. Thus at farm level: prevention of lameness should take in consideration the following:
(1) Ensure feeds have well balanced calcium/phosphorous ratio-check with your feed manufacturers
(2) Reduce light hours (1-2hours) from commonly 23 hours used to reduce amount of feed
(3) Do rational feed regime by providing high energy-high protein- then low energy -low protein every after 2 weeks,
In aim to answer the question by the right way you should firstly clarify the clinical signs Do you means Paralysis or leg disorders
Please find below some possible causes of leg disorders Some possible causes of leg disorders Non infectious infectious
Genetic Viral agents Rapid growth Reovirus
Nutrition Bacterial agents Mycoplasma Management E. coli Litter quality P. multocida Stocking density Streptococci, Staphylococci Lighting programme ORT Exercise Deviation in hatching
Thanks All, I fully agree with Prof. Dr. Hafez. Anyway, There are many factors affecting Lameness in broiler chicks (chick quality, genetic, feed and farming management), but we have to clarify the case accurately to solve the problem.
Thanks, Hope you my find useful Salah El-Safty, Ph.D.
