Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31014
Title: The association between range usage and tibial quality in commercial free-range laying hens
Contributor(s): Sibanda, T Z  (author)orcid ; Flavel, R  (author)orcid ; Kolakshyapati, M  (author)orcid ; Welch, M  (author)orcid ; Schneider, D  (author)orcid ; Ruhnke, I  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2020-05-20
DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2020.1759786
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31014
Abstract: 1. Bone tissue adapts continuously to metabolic calcium demands, as well as to external forces due to physical weight loading subject to hen movement. Limited calcium metabolism and, subsequently, its availability from the medullary bone, is a major factor contributing to reduced eggshell quality in hens in the late laying period (>60 weeks of age).
2. Increasing physical activity and biomechanical loading during hen rearing has been demonstrated to increase skeletal strength, enhancing bone mass as well as endocortical and periosteal bone metabolism. Presently, the consequences of range use during lay on bone quality characteristics in laying hens remain unknown.
3.The aims of this study were to characterise tibiotarsal bone indices and evaluate the impact of range access during lay on tibia bone quality in commercial free-range laying hens.
4. This exploratory study described and analysed the volumetric measurements, morphological mechanical and trabeculae indices of the tibiotarsal bone of 48 Lohmann Brown laying hens at 74 weeks of age. All bone parameters were obtained using micro-computed tomography and correlated with individual hen range use.
5. Range usage throughout lay was not associated with tibial trabecular architecture (bone volume and fraction, trabecular thickness, trabecular connectivity density and structural model index), or any other morphological characteristics (breaking strength, diaphyseal diameter, bone weight and bone mineral density) of the tibia (P > 0.05) when hens were 74 weeks of age.
6. The results demonstrated a large variation in individual bone characteristics and suggested that range usage was not associated with bone quality in commercial free-range laying hens used in this study. In conclusion, the bone health of free-range commercial laying hens may be positively impacted by other features, such as hen genetics, feed, the quality of pullet rearing, perch availability or other shed equipment, and the benefits of these variables exceed the benefit of range use.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: British Poultry Science, 61(5), p. 493-501
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1466-1799
0007-1668
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 300303 Animal nutrition
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 100411 Poultry
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science
School of Science and Technology

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