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Effect of daylight on keel bone health of laying hens
Project
Project code: FLI-ITT-08-Petow
Contract period: 01.01.2018
- 31.12.2020
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: animal husbandry, animal welfare, animal health, laying hens, keelbone health
Keelbone damage is a major problem in laying hens, although the aetiology is still not sufficiently clarified. In this study, therefore, the influence of daylight (UVB) on the synthesis of vitamin D and the effect on bone health, with special attention to the keelbone, should be examined. For this purpose, 100 adult laying hens from the Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL) line are divided into two groups. One group is given outside access, the other group is kept under conventional conditions. The keelbone is X-rayed at regular, monthly intervals. As additional parameters, the UVA and UVB intensity are measured, the activity of the animals is recorded and vitamin D in the plasma is determined. It is assumed that in laying hens that have access to the outside, the plasma concentration of vitamin D is significantly higher and that there is less damage to the sternum, especially less deformations.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal health
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT)
