Leg Problems Research Articles

A microeconomic evaluation of the impact of Mycoplasma meleagridis infection in turkey production

A microeconomic evaluation approach was used to determine the economic impact of Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) infection in turkeys. Profit maximization, using the production, cost and profit functions, and prices of inputs and outputs was utilized to determine the economically optimal time birds should be raised as well as the corresponding optimal level of feed input and liveweight meat output. Optimal was defined as that level which maximized profits. Using regression analysis, the predicted weights of MM-infected (MM(+)) males and females were found to be significantly greater, for a given age or level of feed input, than noninfected (MM(−)) cohorts of identical age and parent line. This unusual weight advantage demonstrated by the infected birds may be the result of higher embryo mortality of this group thus reducing the survivability of some of the potentially poor weight gainers in the MM(+) group. By evaluating the profit functions, this weight advantage also translated into a profit advantage of $0.06 per bird associated with raising MM(+) turkeys. Although the weight gain results were obtained from birds raised under environmentally controlled conditions and thus not subjected to typical overcrowding and climatic stress faced under field conditions, they agree with recent results obtained in a field study (Carpenter et al., 1982a). This apparent profit advantage should be considered when measuring the benefits derived from averting decreased hatchability, leg problems, and other anomalies associated with MM infection. This microeconomic approach should aid producers, veterinarians and administrators in their disease control/eradication decision making.

Anticoccidial Drugs and Duckling Performance to Four Weeks of Age

Frequently, publications pertaining to waterfowl state that medicated feeds should not be fed to ducklings and goslings. In some localities, producers and hobbyists who raise a small number of ducklings and goslings can purchase only medicated chick, turkey, or gamebird starter and grower feeds. Because of the lack of documented information on this subject and the numerous requests for advice on this matter, anticoccidial drugs, zoalene, sulfaquinoxaline, and amprolium, were mixed in mash feed and fed to Khaki Campbell male ducklings to 4 weeks of age.No significant differences in mean body weight, mortality, and anatomical development were observed among the treatments. Medicated commercial crumble turkey and chick starter feeds produced significantly better feed conversion than the mash medicated or nonmedicated feeds. These differences can be attributed to greater feed spillage with the mash feed. Some ducklings in all treatments showed unsteadiness of gait and shaky legs. These conditions disappeared when the ducklings were moved from the battery brooder to an outside pen. Zoalene, sulfaquinoxaline, and amprolium used at the recommended levels for chickens and turkeys did not cause any leg or anatomical problems in ducklings.

Effect of Starter and Finisher Protein on Performance, Carcass Grade, and Meat Yield of Broilers

Three starter diets ranging from 205 to 242 g protein/kg with 3.30 Meal (13.8 MJ) true metabolizable energy (TME)/kg and four finisher diets ranging from 166 to 227 g protein/kg with 3.36 Meal (14.1 MJ) TME/kg were fed to broilers in a factorial experiment involving 1650 chickens.Weight gains to 4 weeks improved with increasing starter protein and the differences were maintained to 8 weeks. Feed efficiency to 4 but not 8 weeks improved with increasing starter protein. Carcass fleshing grades and breast meat yield at slaughter (6, 7, and 8 weeks) increased with higher starter protein.Weight gains from 4 to 8 weeks were not significantly affected by finisher protein levels, but feed efficiency of males was improved when the diet contained 189 g or more protein/kg. Finisher protein had little effect on carcass fat scores, but carcass skin and abdominal fat yields decreased with increasing protein. Total meat and breast meat yields increased together with the finisher protein.Increased total mortality and losses attributed to leg problems were associated with the highest starter protein level. However, total mortality decreased linearly with increasing finisher protein. Incidence of sudden death syndrome was not significantly related to diet.

Characteristics and Pathogenicity of Two Avian Reoviruses Isolated from Chickens with Leg Problems

Two reoviruses identified as 172 and 176 were isolated from the hock of 2-to-3-week-old broiler breeders exhibiting leg problems. Oral-ocular or intraplantar inoculation of day-old specific-pathogen-free or broiler chickens produced severe mortality (60-100%) within 2 to 6 days. The main lesions observed were tenosynovitis as well as necrosis and congestion of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and bursa of Fabricius.

Components of Variance of Dairymen's Workability Traits Among Holstein Cows

Dairymen of an artificial insemination cooperative subjectively evaluated 5,601 of their cows in first lactation sired by 187 young Holstein bulls for temperament, milking speed, udder, leg and foot problems, and milk production. Exclusive categories were defined for each characteristic. Individual categories were separate traits, and components of variance and covariance were estimated for herd-year of measurement, sire of cow, and residual effects. Variance from sire of cow was less than 3% of the total for all traits so that heritabilities within herd-year were less than .12 for every trait. Variances and covariances were used in a multiple trait sire evaluation procedure to predict frequencies of future daughters for each category.

Coping With A Leg Amputation

Amputation of any body part carries with it a change in body image, but perhaps one of the most serious alterations in body image comes with loss of a leg. For not only will the individual's physical appearance be altered, but depending upon the level of the amputation, his mobility may also be seriously compromised. Most amputations of the leg are secondary to a disease process-for example, diabetes or arteriosclerotic heart disease(1). Therefore, many of these patients are over the age of 50 and may also have a chronic disease. Because of recent advances in vascular microsurgery techniques, many patients who, in the past, would have needed an above-theknee amputation, are now receiving below-the-knee amputations. Regardless of the underlying cause or level of the amputation, the person who has undergone one will go through four phases as he or she adjusts to the loss: impact, retreat, acknowledgment, and reconstruction(2). In each phase, the client will require both physical care and emotional support as he attempts to adjust to his altered body image. reactions are manifested, however, will depend upon several factors. One is the reason for the amputation. For example, the impact of an amputation due to trauma is often much greater than that of a diseaserelated amputation. Many people who have an amputation because of vascular disease have had their leg problem for a long time, have realized that it was not improving, and have either figured out for themselves or been told by their physician that they might eventually require an amputation. Thus, they may have worked through much of the impact phase before the surgery. In contrast is the person who loses a leg in an automobile accident; for him, the amputation is sudden, and the impact is usually

Curled Toes and Perosis-Like Leg Abnormalities in Cage Reared Broilers

A high incidence of perosis-curled toe type of leg disorder has consistently developed in both cage- and floor pen-reared male broiler chicks of two different genetic strains within 5 to 7 days when fed a nutritionally complete corn-soybean meal diet. Postmortem analysis of affected birds indicate classic perosis as seen in dietary manganese (Mn) deficiency. Ration modifications, such as inclusion of 50 ppm additional Mn or .5 mg/kg vitamin B-2 did not prevent or reduce the development of this leg problem. Birds reared in floor-pens had a reduced incidence (12 to 13%) of perosis-curled toe problem compared with incidence of leg disorders of battery-reared birds (20 to 60%). In most instances, a positive relationship between rate of weight gain and severity of leg abnormalities was apparent. Reduction in photoperiod from 24 hr/day to 12 hr/day substantially reduced incidence of leg disorders; however, growth rate was also reduced. The practical basal diet employed in all experiments promotes satisfactory rate of growth and feed efficiency and may be an excellent assay diet for experimentation into perosis-like broiler leg problems.

Foot orthotic devices to modify selected aspects of lower extremity mechanics

Excessive foot pronation has been speculated to be a cause of leg and foot problems among runners. Foot orthotic devices are often used to modify this condition. Examination of the records of 180 patients treated for various running injuries showed that 83 individuals (46%) were prescribed orthotic devices and that 65 of these runners (78%) were able to return to their previous running programs. In order to assess further the effects of this type of orthotic device, six runners were selected from this group and filmed using two cameras (200 frames/sec) under three conditions: (1) barefoot, (2) regular shoe, and (3) regular shoe plus orthotic device. Both the period of pronation and the amount of maximum pronation were significantly reduced by using the foot orthotic device. The data support the conclusion that foot orthotic devices can be successfully used to modify selected aspects of lower extremity mechanics during the support phase of running.

Reproductive lifetime of sows in relation to economy of production

In pig production substantial economic loss is involved in early culling of sows, due to low fertility, leg problems, etc. Data on 15 000 services from 85 commercial pig farms were analysed to quantify the importance of these losses. From the average cost price per weaner per litter and cumulative, a “sow remainder productive life value” has been calculated, indicating the economic loss when a sow has to be culled too early. Calculations for farms with low, average and high culling rates show substantial differences in economic results.

Twisted legs in broilers.

The effect of various factors on the incidence of leg abnormalities, with particular reference to twisted leg, in broilers was studied. The incidence of twisted legs was influenced by strain and for males was twice that for females. There was also a higher incidence in cages than on litter with the type of cage floor having an effect: broilers reared on floors of metal wire and perforated sheets had more leg problems than those reared on plastic mats and plastic-covered wire. Although vitamin and mineral supplementation had no effect on caged broilers, a restriction of metabolisable energy (ME) intake during the first 14 d after hatching halved the frequency of leg abnormalities compared with those fed ad libitum. Studies of cage size and location of water suggested that a lack of exercise increases the incidence of leg abnormalities.

Investigations of Leg Abnormalities in Chicks Consuming High Tannin Sorghum Grain Diets

Studies were conducted into the etiology of leg abnormalities noted in chicks fed high tannin sorghum grain diets. These anomalies were characterized by a bowing of the legs with a swelling of the hock joints. The incidence of these leg problems was found to be markedly higher when the amino acids in the diet provided by soybean meal were replaced by crystalline amino acids. Supplemental vitamins and minerals had no alleviating effect on the leg problem. Bone mineralization was apparently not influenced by tannins as demonstrated by similar bone ash values for chicks fed high or low tannin sorghums. A possible alteration caused by tannin in the organic matrix of bone is discussed.High tannin sorghum depressed chick growth and feed conversion when compared with low tannin sorghum in both sorghum-soybean meal and sorghum-amino acid rations. This growth depression was overcome by supplementing the high tannin sorghum-soybean meal diet with .15% DL-methionine, but no growth response was observed from a similar supplementation of a high tannin sorghum-amino acid diet.

Introduction: hip and leg problems in children.

Introduction: hip and leg problems in children.

Readysource hip and Leg Problems in Children

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Effects of Dietary Citrinin and Aflatoxin on Leg Problems of Broilers Grown on Wire Floors

Dietary levels of citrinin of 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 μg./g. diet or aflatoxin at a dietary level of 2.5 μg./g. of diet fed from 1–21 days of age did not increase the incidence of leg problems compared to control groups receiving no dietary mycotoxins. These data indicate that dietary contamination with these toxins does not account for the incidence of occasionally observed leg problems in young broiler chicks.

Childhood Foot and Leg Problems

A thorough history and examination are essential to the accurate diagnosis of foot and leg problems in children. Most such problems, if diagnosed and treated early, can be corrected by conservative measures. Footwear for these children must be properly chosen.

Lower Leg Problems in Long Distance Runners

Lower Leg Problems in Long Distance Runners

Effect of Iron and Magnesium on Manganese Metabolism

THERE are many areas in which water for livestock and poultry consumption contains high concentrations of iron and magnesium salts. In Iowa, a number of cases of leg problems with swine and turkeys have been reported from these areas. Furthermore, the Iowa State University Diagnostic Laboratory has diagnosed these leg problems to be due to nutritional rather than pathological causes.Leg disorders commonly observed in turkeys appear to be the gross symptoms of perosis. A dietary manganese deficiency has been found to cause perosis, (Ringrose et al., 1939). Excessive amounts of some minerals can be toxic to poults or can act as antagonists of other minerals. For example, magnesium has been known to be an antagonist of some minerals, especially calcium, and Wilgus and Patton (1939) found that ferric hydroxide and iron citrate decreased the diffusable manganese in the intestinal tract.The primary objective of the studies reported herein was…