Effects of rearing system and body weight of Redbro broilers on the frequency and severity of footpad dermatitis

Abstract

High market demand for high-quality chicken paws, as well as their role in the assessment of the welfare of broiler chickens are the main reasons for the research in this area. In order to determine the effects of rearing system and the body weight of moderate growing broilers on the frequency and severity of incidence of footpad dermatitis, experimental research was conducted on a total of 300 Redbro chickens reared in free range and floor system in the production facility until the age of 84 days. Based on an individual weighing of broilers and visual evaluation of the incidence and severity of footpad lesions at the end of the experiment, the frequency of the individual scores for footpad dermatitis was determined, as well as the average score in each of the five weight groups. The effect of body weight on the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis was not statistically confirmed, but the absence of the most difficult forms of footpad dermatitis in broiler group with the lowest body weight was recorded. Rearing broiler chickens in free range system manifested a positive effect in terms of increased frequency of broilers without lesions and less frequency of moderate and severe lesions in relation to rearing system in the production facility. Also, the effect of rearing system on the frequency of the most severe degree of dermatitis in broilers Redbro was statistically confirmed.

Velika potražnja na tržištu za kvalitetnim pilećim nogama, kao i njihova uloga u proceni dobrobiti brojlera su osnovni razlozi za istraživanja u ovoj oblasti. U cilju utvrđivanja efekata sistema gajenja i telesne mase brojlera umerenog porasta na učestalost i ozbiljnost pojave footpad dermatitisa, sprovedeno je eksperimentalno istraživanje na ukupno 300 Redbro pilića gajenih u sistemu sa ispustom i podnom sistemu u objektu do uzrasta 84 dana. Na osnovu individualnog merenja telesne mase brojlera i vizuelne ocene pojave i težine lezija na nožnim jastučićima, na kraju ogleda, utvrđena je frekvencija pojedinačnih ocena za footpad dermatitis, kao i prosečna ocena u svakoj od pet težinskih grupa. Efekat telesne mase na učestalost i ozbiljnost footpad dermatitisa nije statistički potvrđen ali je utvrđeno odsustvo najtežih oblika footpad dermatitisa u grupi brojlera sa najmanjim telesnim masama. Gajenjem brojlera u sistemu sa ispustom ispoljen je pozitivan efekat u smislu veće frekvencije brojlera bez lezija i manje frekvencije umerenih i teških lezija u odnosu na sistem gajenja u objektu.Takođe je dobijena statistička potvrda efekta sistema gajenja na frekvenciju dermatitisa najtežeg stepena kod Redbro brojlera.