Pufall Amanda, Harlander-Matauschek Alexandra, Hunniford Michelle, Widowski Tina M
Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
Burnbrae Farms, Lyn, ON K0E 1M0, Canada.
Animals (Basel). 2021 Feb 27;11(3):634. doi: 10.3390/ani11030634.
Previous research indicates that the musculoskeletal development of pullets is improved when pullets are reared in aviaries compared to conventional rearing cages. However, there are considerable differences in rearing aviary design. To measure locomotion and musculoskeletal development of brown ( = 7) and white-feathered ( = 8) strains of pullets, 15 commercial flocks in three styles of rearing aviaries differing in structural complexity ( = 5 per style) were visited three times: 25.9 ± 6.67, 68.0 ± 4.78, and 112.1 ± 3.34 days of age. Locomotion (duration of standing, sitting, walking, running, flying, and rates jumping, flying, group running and walking) was analysed from videos recorded three times per day: at the beginning, middle, and end of the light cycle. Pullets for dissection were taken on visits 2 and 3. Pullets in the most complex system (style 3; S3) spent the most time locomoting throughout rearing ( < 0.05). Pullets in S3, particularly white-feathered strains, performed the highest rate of vertical transitions ( < 0.05). There were no differences in any of the proportional muscle weights between aviaries styles ( > 0.05) despite the differences in locomotion. White-feathered strains, however, had proportionally heavier pectoralis major ( < 0.0001), pectoralis minor ( < 0.0001), and lighter leg muscles ( < 0.0001) than brown-feathered strains. White-feathered strains and pullets in S3 also had proportionally stronger tibiae and femurs than brown-feathered strains and pullets housed in the least structurally complex system (style 1; S1) ( < 0.05). However, there were no differences found in the breaking strength of the radius and humerus between strain colours or aviary styles ( < 0.05). Therefore, strain, as well as differences in rearing aviary design, can affect the types of locomotion that growing pullets perform, which may, in turn, impact their skeletal development.
先前的研究表明，与传统饲养笼相比，蛋鸡在禽舍中饲养时，其肌肉骨骼发育状况会得到改善。然而，饲养禽舍的设计存在很大差异。为了测量棕色（=7）和白色羽毛（=8）品系蛋鸡的运动能力和肌肉骨骼发育情况，研究人员走访了三种结构复杂度不同的饲养禽舍中的15个商业鸡群（每种样式5个），并在蛋鸡25.9±6.67日龄、68.0±4.78日龄和112.1±3.34日龄时进行了三次走访。通过每天记录三次的视频（光照周期开始、中间和结束时）分析运动能力（站立、坐着、行走、奔跑、飞行的持续时间以及跳跃、飞行、群体奔跑和行走的速率）。在第二次和第三次走访时选取用于解剖的蛋鸡。在最复杂系统（样式3；S3）中的蛋鸡在整个饲养过程中用于运动的时间最多（P<0.05）。S3中的蛋鸡，尤其是白色羽毛品系，垂直转换率最高（P<0.05）。尽管运动情况存在差异，但不同禽舍样式之间的任何肌肉重量比例均无差异（P>0.05）。然而，白色羽毛品系的胸大肌（P<0.0001）、胸小肌（P<0.0001）比例比棕色羽毛品系重，腿部肌肉比例比棕色羽毛品系轻（P<0.0001）。白色羽毛品系以及S3中的蛋鸡的胫骨和股骨比例也比棕色羽毛品系以及饲养在结构最不复杂系统（样式1；S1）中的蛋鸡更强壮（P<0.05）。然而，品系颜色或禽舍样式之间的桡骨和肱骨断裂强度没有差异（P<0.05）。因此，品系以及饲养禽舍设计的差异会影响生长中的蛋鸡的运动类型，进而可能影响它们的骨骼发育。
