CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW - Repository.lib.ncsu.edu

more likely to display worsened walking ability than strain B broilers at 4 wk. Strain Bbreeders restricted to LS and given MR had progeny with less severe angular deformationsand locomotion problems at 6 wk compared to strain B breeders allocated to LF and givenMR. Strain A broilers only had less severe angular deformities when breeders were fedaccording to LS but given L. Indeed, the highest G was observed when LS program wasapplied to strain B breeders. MR in combination with corn diets worsened walking ability inprogeny at 4 wk compared to L; however, no effects of feeder space were observed on Geven though eggshell thickness was lower in MR breeders. Broilers having more legproblems had longer bones, and greater BMD and BMC measured at 7 wk.In conclusion, eggshell conductance was the most consistent egg variable related to progenyleg health. These two breeder strains seemed to respond differently to feeder space changesfrom rearing to production. Strain A broilers had less leg problems when breeders wereprovided with similar or less feeder space. In contrast, the beneficial effect of the LS breederfeeding program on progeny walking ability and several leg abnormalities of strain B broilerswere only observed when breeders were given more feeder space.ii