RADIOGRAPHICALAND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF LEG BONES DURING POSTHATCH DEVELOPMENT OF BROILER CHICKENS

‘Vencob' day-old broiler chicks(45 no.) were reared up to day 42 to carry outradiographical and biochemical studies on the long leg bones (femur, tibiotarsus, and tarsometatarsus) and associated growth cartilages at different ages (on days 1,7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42). The present study confirmed the presence of both proximal as well as distal growth plates in all these three bones from day 1 till day 42, the latter one being more authentic. In the femur, the presence of growth plates was reported for the first time. The secondary center of ossification in broiler chicken appeared in the epiphyseal ends of the tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus (but not in the femur) on day 21. The average serum Ca and P levels in plasma and bone (%) in broiler birds gradually increased with age. The ratio between serum Ca and P level (Ca: P) and bone Ca and P percentage remained almost constant during the growing period of the broiler chickens to maintain a proper balance for adequate mineralization of bones.