Several materials have been used as bedding substrates in broiler production. In this work, the sludge from paper recycling was tested for its potential use as litter material and was compared with wood shavings. Moisture content, apparent density, and water-holding capacity were measured and characterized in both materials. Later, 192 male broiler chickens were distributed among 16 experimental pens, 8 of which contained wood shavings as bedding material and 8 of which contained the sludge. Growth rate, consumption, tonic immobility, gait score, breast lesions, foot pad dermatitis, hock burn, tibial dyschondroplasia, and metatarsal thickness were determined in the birds. Although the moisture content of the sludge was high, it decreased strongly after 7 d of drying, reaching lower values than those of wood shavings. In general, few differences were found between the materials in terms of bird performance and welfare and only the incidence of hock burn was higher in the sludge than in the wood shavings. Although further research is needed, sludge from paper recycling is a possible alternative to traditional bedding materials because it achieves most of the requirements for broiler bedding materials and does not show negative effects on the birds.
The biological decomposition of lignocellulosic materials caused by basidiomycetes plays an essential role in the carbon cycle. Brown rot fungi represent important agents in the biodegradation of wood products and standing coniferous trees in natural ecosystems. The initial moisture content of the wood is an important factor in the degradation process. In this work, the effects of initial moisture content of Eucalyptus grandis sapwood on decay by two brown rot fungi Gloeophyllum trabeum and Laetiporus sulphureus were studied over a 10-month period. The fungal activity was evaluated, through wood weight loss, moisture content, anatomical changes (scan electronic and fluorescence microscopy) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Weight loss increased through the 10-month test for both fungi, Laetiporus sulphureus producing higher mass losses. Colonization of the wood by both fungi started below the fiber saturation range. It was observed that the initial moisture content of the wood influenced the rate of deterioration: the wet samples showed higher weight loss compared to the dry samples. Changes in the chemical composition and structure of cell walls were detected. The initial moisture content of the substrate affected the development of the fungi, slowing their growth.
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