Pad Burns Research Articles

The effect of photoperiod:scotoperiod on leg weakness in broiler chickens

Four trials were conducted to investigate whether manipulations of photoperiod:scotoperiod affected the prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chickens. Modified photoperiods were applied from 3 until 21 d of age, followed by gradual or immediate return to 23 h light. The photoperiods tested were 8, 16, 21, and 23 h light. Leg weakness was assessed by measuring walking ability by gait scoring (GS) and tibial dyschondroplasia by x-ray (TD). Foot burn, hock burn, angulation of the hock joint, and BW were also measured. In total, 4,640 birds were assessed. The responses of the birds across the four trials were consistent. Increased photoperiod was associated with increased BW and prevalence of TD. There was no clear relationship between photoperiod and GS but foot pad burns were reduced by longer photoperiod. When the data were adjusted for differences in BW, increased photoperiod was associated with increased prevalence of TD, better walking ability (GS), and fewer hock and foot pad burns. Strong correlations were found between GS and live weight, and weak correlations with hock burn and TD. Tibial dyschondroplasia was weakly correlated with BW. The linear regressions of GS on live weight, within sex, across trials, were not different, but there was a difference between sexes, with males having a higher intercept but lower slope than females. It was concluded that shorter photoperiod affected walking ability and TD, but that these effects were largely a result of BW.

Electric heating pad burns

Patients with sensory deficits are especially prone to heating pad burns. Two cases are reported of patients with anesthetic skin who received partial and full-thickness burns of their feet from an electric heating pad. These burn injuries could have been prevented if the patients understood the potential hazard of heating pads.

Studies with Clinoptilolite in Poultry. II. Effect of Feeding Broilers and the Direct Application of Clinoptilolite (Zeolite) on Clean and Reused Broiler Litter on Broiler Performance and House Environment ,

Three broiler experiments were carried out to determine whether various methods and uses of clinoptilolite (clin) application would affect broiler performance and house environment. Neither applications of clin on clean and reused wood shaving litter and clin as sole source of litter in the most frequented areas (1.82 m × 2.44 m) of the pens nor feeding 10% clin significantly affected mean body weight, feed conversion, and feed consumption. Total respiratory dust levels were generally much higher in pens where clin was applied on the clean or reused litter or primarily used as the sole source of litter. Applying clin on either unused or reused wood shavings litters reduced the incidence of foot pad burns; however, incorporating 10% clin in the ration and fed from 1 to 49 days of production (market age) significantly increased the incidence of foot pad burns. The contradictory observation may be attributed to the greater extent of caked litter in clin-fed pens. Litter moisture and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) levels were lowered when clin was applied on clean wood shaving litter. The NH3-N levels were significantly lowered when clin was incorporated in the feed and fed from 1 to 49 days of production. Mortality was significantly increased when used primarily as a sole source of litter in a portion of two pens.Under the conditions of our experiments, the best method for the reduction of NH3-N and litter moisture is the application of clin or clean wood shaving litter at the rate of 5 kg/m2 after 28 days of production (28 days of age).