Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Animal Science

Advisor/Mentor

Alrubaye, Adnan

Committee Member

Rogers, Lauren

Second Committee Member

Cox, Cassandra

Abstract

Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is a significant animal welfare and food safety issue affecting the commercial broiler industry in the United States and worldwide. Bacteria can translocate from the respiratory system and/or the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream, eventually settling in bone microfractures leading to necrosis and BCO lameness.

This study evaluated the effects of Probiotic 1 and Probiotic 2 on the incidence of BCO lameness in broiler chickens. Probiotic 1 was applied as a spray on Day 1-old chicks, while Probiotic 2 was administered prophylactically (orally in feed) from Day 1 to Day 56. Birds were assigned to five groups: a positive control (PC) group (T1) and a negative control (NC) group (T2), both receiving no treatment, and three treatment groups: one receiving the Probiotic 1 program (T3), another receiving Probiotic 2 (T4), and a third receiving a combination of Probiotic 1 and Probiotic 2 (T5). The positive control group was raised on a wire floor and used as a source of BCO infection. This model replicates the epidemic spread of BCO lameness in broiler production facilities. Our objective is to identify management protocols that can mitigate BCO lameness. Effective Prophylactic protocols would be of great interest to the commercial broiler sector, particularly in facilities with a history of high lameness related mortality. Probiotic 1 and Probiotic 2 have been recognized for enhancing gut health and immune function, which are critical factors in decreasing the incidence of BCO lameness in broiler chickens. According to this study probiotics do decrease the instance of symptoms correlating to BCO induced lameness. When the tested probiotics (Probiotic 1 and Probiotic 2) were administered independently, there was a significantly lower number of BCO infected birds when compared to the control groups who were not administered any probiotic. However, when the probiotics are given in tandem, there was a greater decrease of incidence. This study concludes Probiotics 1 and 2 are effective in preventing BCO lameness when administered appropriately to Broiler chickens.

Keywords

Lameness, Broiler Production, Bacterial Chrondronecrosis, osteomyelitis, Poultry lameness Prevention, Probiotics

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