Prevalence and control of foot-pad dermatitis in broilers in Sweden.
1. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out to investigate spatial, temporal and management aspects of foot-pad dermatitis in Swedish broilers. The efficacy of a control programme was evaluated. 2. Flock information on producer, breed, foodstuff manufacturer, region, abattoir, date of slaughter, age at slaughter, planned and actual stocking density was recorded. A total of 6988 flocks, representing approximately 110 million broilers was examined. A total of 175 broiler producers from 15 geographical regions is represented. 3. The total foot-pad score per flock ranged from 0 to 200, with a mean of 34.7 and a standard deviation of 40.9. 4. Simple linear regression analysis showed that the mean total score on a weekly basis decreased (P < 0.001) over time, mainly because of a decrease in the prevalence of severe foot-pad lesions. 5. There was an association (P < 0.05) between slaughterhouse, foodstuff supplier and geographic region respectively and the mean total foot pad score of the flocks slaughtered.
Ekstrand
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C
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara, Sweden. Lotta.Ekstrand@hmh.slu.se
Carpenter
T E
TE
Andersson
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I
Algers
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B
D000003:Abattoirs; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology