Gait analysis of poultry

Lameness is a major problem in the UK poultry industry, however, relatively few objective studies have been undertaken into the biomechanics of normal walking in these birds. In this study, the use of a pedobarograph as a nov el method of gait analysis in poultry was investigated. Unlike most systems , the pedobarograph has a recording surface with a high degree of spatial r esolution, allowing pressure patterns to be established for various regions of the foot. The highest pressures were found to act on the medial toe (14 9.4-218 kN m(-2)) and back toe (146.1-195.5 kN m(-2)). The metatarsal pad, a region often associated with lesions, was subject to lower pressures (16. 3-131.2 kN m(-2)). Maximum net forces of 116-145 per cent of bodyweight wer e found during normal walking, an order of the same magnitude as human bipe ds. Routine spatial parameters were also measured, allowing further charact erisation of the gait patterns.