The avian skeletal system is drawing increasing attention from researchers because it serves as a unique research model to study bone metabolism and pathologies, as well as the importance of bone health and its relationship with animal productivity and welfare. The avian skeleton is a delicate system providing structural support to the bird and minerals for eggshell formation, meanwhile, functioning as an immune organ. There is a lack of complete understanding of the physiological difference between mammalian and avian bones, the impact of genetic improvements, the interaction between immunity and bone health, the avian bone 3D structural development and turnover, the biological function of avian bone, and its relationship with animal well-being. Additionally, skeletal abnormalities can have a serious effect on poultry farming whereby conditions such as osteomyelitis, rickets and chondrodystrophy, among others, can cause changes in gait patterns, reduced walking ability and other pathophysiologies with subsequent detrimental effects on feed conversion and growth, as well as economic losses.
The Research Topic focuses on the new methodology available to evaluate bone quality, the function of bones, avian osteoimmunology, avian bone physiology, and the strategies to improve skeletal health via nutrition, environmental management, breeding, etc. The topic also has a focus on the pathogenesis of leg and bone abnormalities and its effects, which process may include abnormal development of leg bones, apoptosis of cartilage cells, abnormal formation of skeletal blood vessels, gut microbiota, abnormal blood sugar levels, etc. and its impact on poultry performance, muscle quality and other aspects.
Sub-topics encouraged for submission to this Topic include, but are not limited to:
• New technology in skeletal health evaluation
• Osteoimmunology in avian species
• Relationship of gut health and bone health
• Skeletal health and animal wellbeing
• Skeletal structural development and turnover in avian species
• Strategies to improve avian skeletal health
• Mechanism and regulation leg and skeletal abnormalities in skeletal development
• Mechanism and regulation of blood vessels and its role in skeletal development
• Mechanism and regulation of leg and skeletal abnormalities with different nutritional strategies or environmental conditions
• Effects and mechanisms of Chinese Medicine and probiotics on poultry leg and skeletal abnormalities
• Effects of leg and skeletal abnormalities on meat quality and other organ functions in chickens
The avian skeletal system is drawing increasing attention from researchers because it serves as a unique research model to study bone metabolism and pathologies, as well as the importance of bone health and its relationship with animal productivity and welfare. The avian skeleton is a delicate system providing structural support to the bird and minerals for eggshell formation, meanwhile, functioning as an immune organ. There is a lack of complete understanding of the physiological difference between mammalian and avian bones, the impact of genetic improvements, the interaction between immunity and bone health, the avian bone 3D structural development and turnover, the biological function of avian bone, and its relationship with animal well-being. Additionally, skeletal abnormalities can have a serious effect on poultry farming whereby conditions such as osteomyelitis, rickets and chondrodystrophy, among others, can cause changes in gait patterns, reduced walking ability and other pathophysiologies with subsequent detrimental effects on feed conversion and growth, as well as economic losses.
The Research Topic focuses on the new methodology available to evaluate bone quality, the function of bones, avian osteoimmunology, avian bone physiology, and the strategies to improve skeletal health via nutrition, environmental management, breeding, etc. The topic also has a focus on the pathogenesis of leg and bone abnormalities and its effects, which process may include abnormal development of leg bones, apoptosis of cartilage cells, abnormal formation of skeletal blood vessels, gut microbiota, abnormal blood sugar levels, etc. and its impact on poultry performance, muscle quality and other aspects.
Sub-topics encouraged for submission to this Topic include, but are not limited to:
• New technology in skeletal health evaluation
• Osteoimmunology in avian species
• Relationship of gut health and bone health
• Skeletal health and animal wellbeing
• Skeletal structural development and turnover in avian species
• Strategies to improve avian skeletal health
• Mechanism and regulation leg and skeletal abnormalities in skeletal development
• Mechanism and regulation of blood vessels and its role in skeletal development
• Mechanism and regulation of leg and skeletal abnormalities with different nutritional strategies or environmental conditions
• Effects and mechanisms of Chinese Medicine and probiotics on poultry leg and skeletal abnormalities
• Effects of leg and skeletal abnormalities on meat quality and other organ functions in chickens