Latency-to-lie test without water is a valid objective method for on-farm assessment of walking ability of broilers

This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the Latency-To-Lie (LTL) test without using water. We tested the performance of the LTL test with and without a box to contain the birds using two broiler hybrids, Ross 308 and Rustic Gold. Latencies to lie were negatively correlated with gait scores (P<0.001), with longer standing times indicating better mobility. Within each gait score category, there was no effect of hybrid on latencies to lie for either of the tests. Using a box provided better differentiation between gait scores. The results suggest that the LTL test without water, especially with the use of a box, is a valid, objective, robust and practical method for assessing walking ability of broilers on commercial farms.