Leg Weakness in Commercial Broiler Chicken- an Overview

Success in commercial broiler chicken enterprise depends to a greater extent on minimizing the incidence of disease occurrence and elimination of conditions producing stress to the birds which may result in economic losses. Diseases of the locomotor system are gaining economic significance in poultry industry. Broiler Chicken has a capacity to grow very fast and produce tender meat. They are being developed for high growth rate through genetic selection. This produces early muscle growth without a simultaneous increase in the skeletal development resulting in leg weakness and disorders. A normal gait is an integrated function of the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems. A failure in any of the above component will clinically result in leg weakness or lameness. This will cause increased culling rate or mortality in broilers. According to Butterworth (1999), Weakness-deficient in strength or power, easily broken, bent, weak point, defect. Lameness-disabled by injury or defect in a limb especially foot or leg, limping or unable to walk normally. Leg weakness due to Infectious conditions include (a) Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO or femoral head necrosis, FHN) (b) Tenosynovitis and arthritis (c) Infectious Stunting Syndrome (ISS) International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O) and Technology, Vol. 4, No 2, 2015, 482 – 487 2277-663X (P)