Bone characteristics and body weight of broilers in different husbandry systems

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Abstract
1. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of husbandry systems on bone characteristics and body weight. Broilers were reared in 5 different husbandry systems: wire mesh (WM) floored cages from 0 to 7 weeks; WM floored cages from 0 to 3 weeks and then transferred to floor pens; plastic mesh (PM) floored cages from 0 to 7 weeks; PM floored cages from 0 to 3 weeks and then transferred to floor pens; floor pens from 0 to 7 weeks. 2. Body weight at 3 weeks of age was affected by the husbandry systems, being greatest for the birds reared in floor pens. At 7 weeks of age, male broilers reared in PM floored cages had the lowest body weight and body weight gain from 4 to 7 weeks. 3. Humerus weight and ash content were affected by cage rearing whereas tibia weight and ash were not. Birds reared in PM cages had shorter tibia and humeri than birds reared in floor pens.