Infectious and non-infectious factors associated with leg disorders in poultry – a review

Broiler chicken welfare, health and performance are strictly linked with skeleton development. Lameness compromises welfare of broiler chickens and causes considerable economic loss since lame birds have difficulty accessing feed and water, become dehydrated and eventually die. Leg disorders are therefore considered to be one of the main factors associated with in-field mortalities between 21-42 d in broiler rearing at European poultry farms. In chickens and other farm animals, bone development is strictly correlated with dietary content of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), as well as calcium and phosphorus availability. However, lameness is also associated with many other factors, such as diseases, genetics, species, gender, growth, aging, as well as physical loading, rearing period and management. Therefore, the aim of the current paper is to review selected noninfectious and infectious factors, which contribute to bone quality in poultry.