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Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

DOI

-

Abstract

This study aimed at an examination of the effects of different housing systems on the body weight, serum calcium levels, digit lengths and various parameters of the humerus and tibiotarsus. For this purpose 40 Tetra SL chickens were kept in caged, aviary, perchery and litter housing systems with 10 animals in each. After 72 weeks, body weight, digit lengths and serum calcium levels as well as the weight, volume, cortical thickness and bone ash contents of the humerus and tibiotarsus were measured. With regard to body weight no significant differences were observed among the groups. When the caged and litter groups were compared with regard to humerus weight significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the two. More significant differences (P < 0.001) were observed among some groups when the humerus and tibiotarsus volumes were compared. The cortical thickness of the humerus was higher in the perchery group than in the other groups. The bone ash content was significantly different (P < 0.001) between the caged and aviary systems. When blood calcium levels were compared significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among the groups, and the highest serum calcium levels were found in the aviary group.

Keywords

Chicken, humerus, tibiotarsus, serum calcium, housing systems

First Page

979

Last Page

982

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