Investigation of palpation as a method for determining the prevalence of keel and furculum damage in laying hens

Old breaks of the keel and furculum were identified by palpation in 500 end-of-lay hens from 10 flocks housed in free-range and barn systems, and the results were compared with the results obtained by a full dissection and inspection. The method was considered to be sufficiently precise to be used a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary record 2004-10, Vol.155 (18), p.547-549
Main Authors: Wilkins, L. J., Brown, S. N., Zimmerman, P. H., Leeb, C., Nicol, C. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Husbandry - methods
Animal Welfare
Animals
Bone and Bones - injuries
bone fractures
Chickens - injuries
diagnostic techniques
Female
Fractures, Bone - diagnosis
Fractures, Bone - epidemiology
Fractures, Bone - veterinary
Housing, Animal - standards
keel bone
laying hens
Oviposition
Palpation - methods
Palpation - veterinary
Poultry Diseases - diagnosis
Poultry Diseases - epidemiology
Prevalence
Sensitivity and Specificity
United Kingdom - epidemiology
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Summary:Old breaks of the keel and furculum were identified by palpation in 500 end-of-lay hens from 10 flocks housed in free-range and barn systems, and the results were compared with the results obtained by a full dissection and inspection. The method was considered to be sufficiently precise to be used as a diagnostic tool although people using it would need to be trained. The results obtained by dissection indicated that 50 to 78 per cent of the birds in the flocks had breaks of the furculum and keel, but no other breaks of bones were detected.
ISSN:0042-4900
2042-7670
DOI:10.1136/vr.155.18.547