Femoral fractures in a young male turkey breeder flock

Twenty-two 32-to-35-wk-old male turkeys from a commercial breeding flock were presented to the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, Fresno Branch, with a clinical complaint of lameness and increased mortality. Necropsy findings included a unilateral, closed oblique fracture involving the femur in 12 birds. Ten complete femoral fractures had periosteal new bone adjacent to and bridging the fracture. Periosteal callus formation, in this case, suggested that preexisting lesions preceded complete fracture of the femur. Factors such as selection for heavy body weight, lack of exercise, and handling might have contributed to the development and promotion of complete fractures.