Condição de equilíbrio e problemas locomotores em frangos de corte

Abstract

This research was developed with the objective to assess the relationship between the angulation and the equilibrium condition of commercially produced broilers and the broiler reared under free range conditions, and also do determine the main diseases of the locomotor system as well as to evaluate their way of walking. The experimental design was completely randomized allocated in a factorial (2x2 +32), composed of two genders and two genetic strains, with five replicates of 53 animals each, plus 16 males and 16 females of rustic birds reared under free range conditions. The variables recorded were the equilibrium condition (EC), the angulation (ANG), the gait score (GS), the presence of pododermatitis (POD), the presence of Valgus (VAL) and Varus (VAR), the incidence of femoral degeneration (FD), tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) and spondylolisthesis (SPO), and the birds’ Body weight (BW) and breast weight (BW). The assessment of GS was performed and the incidence of VAL and VAR was recorded, and later on the images of birds were recorded to estimate the ANG and the EC. The birds were slaughtered and the femural degeneration, tibial dischondroplasia and spondylolisthesis were analyzed. Today’s broilers’ genetic strains presented higher frequency of locomotor problems. The percentage of breast was not influenced by gender and genetic strains, Males showed better angulation compared with females, regardless of genetic strain. Today’s strains showed the equilibrium condition generally prostrate; however, the rustic broiler reared under free range conditions showed a body posture directed backwards. The correlation between gait score and all characteristics evaluated was low. There was average to high association between the equilibrium condition and angulation in males and females of today’s genetic strains. Commercial broilers had compromised their way to walk, locomotor problems, and equilibrium conditions,when compared to rustic broiler reared under free range conditions.