Hematology Profile of Broiler Chickens Affected by Mild Footpad Dermatitis and Hock Burn
Hematology Profile of Broiler Chickens Affected by Mild Footpad Dermatitis and Hock Burn
Eluzia A. Barus1*, Novi Mayasari2, Indrawati Y. Asmara3
ABSTRACT
Intensive broiler production often results in health issues like footpad dermatitis (FPD) and hock burn (HB), which negatively affect chicken welfare and health. While severe FPD and HB are well-studied, the impacts of mild cases are underexplored. This study hypothesized that birds with mild lesions would have hematology profiles closer to normal than those with severe lesions, but still display changes compared to unaffected birds. This study aims to describe the blood profiles of broilers with mild FPD and HB with a case study at an Indonesian farm. To reduce stress, 34 Lohmann and Ross birds were blood-sampled across two broiler houses, with lesion scores assigned using Welfare Quality standards (0: no lesions, 1-2: mild lesions, 3-4: severe lesions). The blood samples were collected from the brachial veins in vacationer tubes with anticoagulants for hematological examination. The blood was drawn from 4-6 birds sampled from six sampling points and brought to a private lab in Bandung City to be analyzed using a hematology analyzer. The blood profiles of red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) were then described with descriptive analysis. Results showed that birds with mild FPD and HB had higher leukocytes compared to unaffected birds, alongside lower RBC counts with larger cell sizes. These findings suggest that even mild lesions are associated with stress or infection, which supports the importance of preventing them for chicken’s health and welfare. However, as a case study, hematology profiles were also influenced by farm-specific factors such as management practices and environmental conditions, regardless of the lesion scores.
Keywords | Hematology profile, Broiler chicken, Animal welfare, Footpad dermatitis, Hock burn, Health
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
