Development of an in vivo radiographic method with potential for use in improving bone quality and the welfare of laying hens through genetic selection.

Data from the measurement of bone density of laying hens using post mortem density and quasi static material testing and live bird x-ray derived density estimates. This is for the validation of live bird x-ray as a potential tool for genetic selection. A reproducability/repeatability study and a manipulation of skeletal quality experiment are included and a SOP for the performance of the technique to allow replication and to give more data than in the paper this accompanies.