Rearing conditions and foot-pad dermatitis in Swedish broiler chickens.
A method of classification of broiler foot-health status was developed to estimate the prevalence of foot-pad dermatitis in Swedish broilers. Data on foot health were collected from 101 commercial broiler flocks at slaughter. The producers were asked to fill in a questionnaire on rearing conditions and equipment for every flock. Lesions were commonly observed; only 62% of the birds were classified as being without lesions, 32% had mild lesions only (discoloration, erosions) and 6% had severe lesions (ulcers). Flocks reared in houses equipped with small water cups had significantly (P < 0.05) higher prevalences of foot-pad dermatitis than flocks reared with water nipples. Thick layers of litter, regardless of litter material, also resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher prevalences of foot-pad dermatitis than litter layers thinner than 5 cm.
Ekstrand
C
C
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara, Sweden.
Algers
B
B
Svedberg
J
J
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology