Leg weakness in growing turkeys : incidence and clinical study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to qualify leg weakness syndrome in 15 weeks old turkeys. After a description of normal walking in turkeys, abnormalities observed in lame birds were described. Lame turkeys were classified into 7 groups : birds of the first group only showed trembling or rested very often. Two groups consisted of birds which showed deviations of the knees (bilateral and unilateral spreading out). Three others were characterized by deviations of the foot (external rotation, medial rotation and medio-cranial displacement) and the last on was characterized by lateral deviations of the legs. Frequency of lameness varied from 23 to 72 percent in the 22 studied flocks. The authors considered that turkey lameness was due to factors very different from bone deformation in the varus and valgus of the chicken.