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Effects on Bone Health and Keel Bone Damage in Laying Hens

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Effects on Bone Health and Keel Bone Damage in Laying Hens Opportunities for Exercise during Pullet Rearing: Effects on Bone Health and Keel Bone Damage in Laying Hens by Teresa Casey-Trott A Thesis Presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Biosciences Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Teresa Marie Casey-Trott, September, 2016 ABSTRACT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXERCISE DURING PULLET REARING: EFFECTS ON BONE HEALTH AND KEEL BONE DAMAGE IN LAYING HENS Teresa Casey-Trott Advisor: University of Guelph, 2016 Professor T. M. Widowski This thesis is an investigation of the effect of providing opportunities for exercise on long term bone health of laying hens, with an emphasis on keel bone damage. Osteoporosis in laying hens is a welfare concern as it increases the risk of bone fractures. The keel bone is especially susceptible to fracture during the laying period. Providing opportunities for exercise during pullet rearing, a period of substantial musculoskeletal growth, offers a proactive approach to reducing osteoporosis by stimulating osteogenesis. The main objective was to determine whether rearing environments that offer different opportunities for exercise have long term effects on bone health and keel bone damage of laying hens. A secondary objective was to determine whether adult housing systems that offer different opportunities for exercise have an effect on bone health and keel bone damage of laying hens. Additionally, behavioural differences between hens with or without keel bone fractures were assessed, and an accelerometer to measure inactivity in laying hens was validated. Aviary-reared pullets had greater values for bone cross-sectional area, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and bone breaking strength in wing and leg bones compared to bones of conventionally-reared pullets. Rearing effects on several bone composition measures were maintained through the end-of-lay, with aviary-reared hens having greater values for bone cross-sectional area and bone mineral content compared to conventionally-reared hens; however, bone mineral density was greater in conventionally-reared hens. Hens in large furnished cages had greater values for bone mineral density and content compared to adult hens housed in conventional cages. Aviary-reared hens had a lower prevalence of keel bone fractures throughout the laying period compared to conventionally-reared hens, with no effect of adult housing. Hens with keel fractures perched more and stood less than hens without keel fractures. Further investigation into whether these behavioural differences cause keel damage, or are a coping strategy resulting from keel damage is warranted. Future studies using the accelerometer validated within this thesis to quantify inactivity levels in laying hens may be useful in measuring changes in activity as a result of keel damage or other pain related conditions in laying hens. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Tina Widowski. The diversity of experiences during my graduate career would not have been possible without her encouragement and belief in my capabilities. Her guidance offered a balance between structured support and freedom, allowing me to grow and gain confidence that I could ask the right questions and find the resources to approach any problem. Thank you to my Advisory Committee, Drs. Michele Guerin, Victoria Sandilands, and Stephanie Torrey for their feedback throughout the completion of my research projects, and especially for their time and effort during the writing stages. Thank you to Dr. Doug Korver, whose constructive feedback as a coauthor was a testament to his skills as an advisor and evidence of his knowledge of laying hen skeletal health. Thank you to Bill Szkotnicki and William Sears for their statistical advice. Thank you to the farm staff at the Arkell Poultry Research Station for their willingness to adhere to the many details of research protocols. Thank you to everyone in the Widowski Lab and Poultry Welfare Group who served as a sounding board for research questions and ideas, and helped with data collection, especially Caitlin Woolcott, who put many hours into dissection, bone analysis, and data entry, doing so with great attention to detail and a positive attitude. Thank you to the members of the Switzerland Keel Bone Damage Workshop who provided a unique network of friends and collaborators to enhance my understanding of the keel bone and expand my research ideas across a variety of disciplines. Thank you to Dr. Anja Riber and her team of researchers at Aarhus University for welcoming me into their lab and farms, allowing me to collaborate and gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of the issue of keel bone damage. Achieving the goal of completing my degree would not have been possible without the love and support of a number of people along the way. Thank you to my academic sisters Krysta Morrissey and Michelle Hunniford who shared in the ups and downs of the graduate school roller coaster – even from across the ocean. Their companionship, support, and willingness to listen and relate reminded me that I was not alone in this journey. And to my science moms, Ashleigh Waz and Janet Higginson-Cutler, who served as a support group for both work and family related successes and failures. iv To my family, who supported my decision to pursue this path, even though it meant living at a distance. Thank you for taking an interest in my research, suggesting innovative solutions, and encouraging me to think of the big picture. Your willingness to travel 10 hours to visit served as a constant reminder of your love and support, allowed us to build a mountain of memories, and motivated me to be efficient in the pursuit of my graduate degree. To all my animals—thank you for your companionship, especially during the long days of nothing but writing. The opportunity to finish the chores or go for a walk offered a chance for reflection and a much needed mental break. To my chickens—thank you for demonstrating the wide range of behaviours that chickens express, encouraging my curiosity, and serving as a constant source of inspiration for research questions and ideas. To James and Annie – thank you for helping me keep life in perspective. Thank you James for pointing out that you would learn more in Grade 1 than I would learn at University. Thank you Annie for constantly reminding me of the importance of life’s little achievements – such as learning to put on a pair of swim goggles for the first time all by yourself – especially during times when it felt like no progress was being made and actually completing a thesis was so far away. To our new baby on the way, I’ve enjoyed sharing this journey with you and thank you for motivating me to manage my stress levels and keep things in perspective. Finally to my husband David – I am hesitant to write anything at all as it will inevitably be a gross understatement of the essential role you played in this journey. I know without a doubt I would not be where I am today without you. Thank you for encouraging me not to quit, and instead, to just take it one week, month, or semester at a time. Your willingness to share all our responsibilities, make sacrifices, and take on even more when unique opportunities came up for me, truly allowed me to get the most out of my graduate experience. I cannot imagine a better partner, and every day I am amazed by all the things we have accomplished together and I still look forward to all of our adventures ahead. The following quote has stuck with me over the last several years, and it represents my current state of mind (however idealistic it may be) as I approach my next exciting, but unknown endeavors: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” -Eleanor Roosevelt So here we go… v TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. viii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................x Chapter 1 .......................................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 North American Egg Production ........................................................................................1 1.2 Societal Concern for Animal Welfare ................................................................................1 Chapter 2 .......................................................................................................................................4 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Historical Review of Osteoporosis in Laying Hens .........................................................4 2.2 Welfare Concerns Related to Osteoporosis and Pain Related to Fractures ........................6 2.3 Keel Bone Damage .............................................................................................................8 2.4 Keel Bone Form and Function............................................................................................9 2.5 Avian Bone Physiology and Calcium Mobilization for Egg Production ..........................11
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