Effect of Litter Materials on Broiler Performance and Evaluation of Manureal Value of Used Litter in Late Autumn

Abstract

A total of 168 seven days-old Arbor Acres chicks were reared in late-autumn on 4 types of litters; sawdust, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse or wheat straw up to 49 days of age to compare the growth performance, evaluate the manureal value and Coccidial oocyst population in used litter. Sadust, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw did not differ statistically for live weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and survivability (p>0.05). However, live weight and survivability tended to increase on sawdust. The highest moisture content of used litter was found in sugarcane bagasse followed by sawdust, rice husk and wheat straw (p<0.05). Rice husk contained the highest amount of of nitrogen, phosphurus and potassium followed by sawdust, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw (p<0.01). Oocyst content of all treatment groups increased suddenly up to 5 weeks of age and thereafter suddenly declined up to 7 weeks of age. Litter materials did not differ at 35 and 42 days of age for oocyst content, but significantly differed at 49 days of age (p<0.01). So, the above findings reveal that sawdust may be suitable litter followed by rice husk, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw in late-autumn in Bangladesh in respect of broiler growth performance.

Biological control of Alphitobius diaperinus with Steinernema rarum CUL and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora SMC and feasibility of application in rice hull

“…Rice hull, a by-product of the rice industry, is one of the main litter materials used as bedding in poultry facilities worldwide (Monira et al 2003). Its primary function is to avoid direct contact of poultry with the floor, maintain the temperature balance in the facilities and absorb the moisture generated by the poultry feces.…”

Effect of litter treatment on growth performance, intestinal development, and selected cecum microbiota in broiler chickens

“…Consequently, both litter management and disposal raise important challenges to the poultry industry, and a major parameter is its economy. Litter source material usually varies according to regions (Monira et al, 2003;Škrbić et al, 2012); sawdust, rice or oat hulls, sugarcane pulp or bagasse, chopped straw, paper mill by-products, sand, wood shavings, corn cobs, and dried leaves are often used as litter source (Swain and Sundaram, 2000). Litter is composed of the bedding material plus the excreta, feed, feathers, and water.…”

Poultry litter of wood shavings and/or sugarcane bagasse: animal performance and bed quality

“…It is possible that the lower moisture retention capacity of wood shavings and SB litters in the fifth flock produced lower temperature and relative humidity, thus increasing bird comfort and performance. Studies investigating the use of alternatives to wood shavings in bedding have reported that use of SB (Monira et al ., 2003;Araújo et al ., 2007) and other materials (Atêncio et al ., 2010;Mendes et al ., 2011) produced no differences in productive performance of birds. Survival rate of birds was also not influenced.…”