One of the most common causes of lameness in commercial broilers is bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), formerly known as femoral head necrosis, which involves necrotic degeneration and microbial infection primarily within the proximal heads of the femur and tibia. It is caused by bacteria that reach the joints via the blood vessels. Bacteria can be transmitted from a number of sources or enter via the respiratory or digestive systems.

To investigate whether probiotics have an impact on the incidence of lameness, a series of four experiments was carried out at the University of Arkansas Poultry Research Farm, using a wire flooring model that is designed to induce lameness in broilers.

The objective of these studies was to evaluate the efficacy of a host-specific multispecies probiotic (PoultryStar®, Biomin GmbH) to prevent the onset of lameness in broilers by using the model.

The results indicate that the probiotic delayed the progressive deterioration of early lesions into the grossly degenerative abscesses that are associated with terminal lameness in broilers, the differences being statistically significant in all four experiments.

The treatment administered prophylactically can provide a plausible alternative to antibiotics for reducing the incidence of BCO.

Further Reading

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You can view the full report from Biomin by clicking here.

Further Reading

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Find out more information on femoral head necrosis by clicking here.