The effect of an induced molt and a second cycle of lay on skeletal integrity of White Leghorns

Abstract

The effect of an induced molt and a second egg laying cycle on White Leghorns hen's skeletal integrity was investigated in a series of 3 experiments. Using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of the left tibia and humerus were measured in live hens and excised bones and correlated with invasive bone measurement tests, egg traits, and the incidence of broken bones in carcasses of processed hens. The results of all 3 experiments showed that an induced molt was detrimental to skeletal integrity. For hens that were repeatedly scanned throughout the second cycle of lay, the BMD of the humerus never recovered after the molt. Recovery of tibial BMD to premolt values occurred late in the second cycle of lay when egg production was declining. The in vivo BMD scans conducted between 77 and 117 wk of age correlated with bone breaking force and bone ash weight (r = 0.58 and r = 0.65, respectively; P < 0.0001). The percentage of freshly broken bones per bird at the end of processing at 126 wk of age averaged 34% and ranged from 0 to 61%. The incidence of broken bones was negatively correlated with the excised tibial BMD and BMC at 126 wk of age (r = -0.54 and r = -0.53, respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, feed withdrawal for 10 d during an induced molt was detrimental to the skeletal integrity of hens, and as BMD and BMC of excised tibia at 126 wk of age decreased in White Leghorns, the incidence of bone breakage increased.