Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot Study
Keel bone damage (KBD) is a highly prevalent problem in commercial egg production. KBD consists of two different conditions affecting the keel: Keel bone deviation and keel bone fractures (KBF). Deviations are linked to pressure on the keel, e.g., from perching. The causative factors for KBF are not...
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1655 |
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| author | Käthe Elise Kittelsen Per Jensen Jens Peter Christensen Ingrid Toftaker Randi Oppermann Moe Guro Vasdal |
| author_facet | Käthe Elise Kittelsen Per Jensen Jens Peter Christensen Ingrid Toftaker Randi Oppermann Moe Guro Vasdal |
| author_sort | Käthe Elise Kittelsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Keel bone damage (KBD) is a highly prevalent problem in commercial egg production. KBD consists of two different conditions affecting the keel: Keel bone deviation and keel bone fractures (KBF). Deviations are linked to pressure on the keel, e.g., from perching. The causative factors for KBF are not clear; however, selection for efficient egg production has been suggested as a major contributing factor. An important step to shed light on the role of selective breeding as an underlying cause of KBF in modern laying hens is to evaluate the keel bones of the ancestor, the red jungle fowl. To the authors’ knowledge, this has never previously been published. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the prevalence of KBD in a study group of red jungle hens and roosters housed in an aviary system. The present study examined 29 red jungle fowls 112 weeks of age post-mortem; 12 hens and 17 roosters. Keel bones were evaluated by external palpation for deviations and fractures. Palpation was followed by autopsy. No fractures were detected in the 17 roosters; one had a very slight deviation. Of the 12 red jungle hens in this pilot study, one had a single fracture and 10 hens had a very slight deviation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:20:06Z |
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| id | doaj.art-ed4d5a59ab7447f791fa957a63c0fe0d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:20:06Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed4d5a59ab7447f791fa957a63c0fe0d2023-11-20T13:48:19ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-09-01109165510.3390/ani10091655Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot StudyKäthe Elise Kittelsen0Per Jensen1Jens Peter Christensen2Ingrid Toftaker3Randi Oppermann Moe4Guro Vasdal5Animalia—The Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, Lorenveien 38, NO-0585 Oslo, NorwayAVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, IFM Biology, Linkoping University, 58183 Linkoping, SwedenDepartment of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, DenmarkFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, NMBU—Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 8146 dep., NO-0033 Oslo, NorwayFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, NMBU—Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 8146 dep., NO-0033 Oslo, NorwayAnimalia—The Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, Lorenveien 38, NO-0585 Oslo, NorwayKeel bone damage (KBD) is a highly prevalent problem in commercial egg production. KBD consists of two different conditions affecting the keel: Keel bone deviation and keel bone fractures (KBF). Deviations are linked to pressure on the keel, e.g., from perching. The causative factors for KBF are not clear; however, selection for efficient egg production has been suggested as a major contributing factor. An important step to shed light on the role of selective breeding as an underlying cause of KBF in modern laying hens is to evaluate the keel bones of the ancestor, the red jungle fowl. To the authors’ knowledge, this has never previously been published. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the prevalence of KBD in a study group of red jungle hens and roosters housed in an aviary system. The present study examined 29 red jungle fowls 112 weeks of age post-mortem; 12 hens and 17 roosters. Keel bones were evaluated by external palpation for deviations and fractures. Palpation was followed by autopsy. No fractures were detected in the 17 roosters; one had a very slight deviation. Of the 12 red jungle hens in this pilot study, one had a single fracture and 10 hens had a very slight deviation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1655red jungle fowlkeel bone fracturekeel bone damagelaying henanimal welfarepoultry welfare |
| spellingShingle | Käthe Elise Kittelsen Per Jensen Jens Peter Christensen Ingrid Toftaker Randi Oppermann Moe Guro Vasdal Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot Study Animals red jungle fowl keel bone fracture keel bone damage laying hen animal welfare poultry welfare |
| title | Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Prevalence of Keel Bone Damage in Red Jungle Fowls (<i>Gallus gallus</i>)—A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | prevalence of keel bone damage in red jungle fowls i gallus gallus i a pilot study |
| topic | red jungle fowl keel bone fracture keel bone damage laying hen animal welfare poultry welfare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1655 |
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