Supplemental boric acid does not prevent the development of footpad dermatitis in broilers subjected to high stocking density

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of dietary boric acid supplementation on the development of incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis (FPD) in broiler chickens subjected to normal or high stocking densities (NSD or HSD). A total of 576 1-day-old ROSS 308 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 4 treatments (8 replicate pens per treatment) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of dietary boric acid (0 and 60 mg/kg) and stocking density (NSD 14 birds/m2 and HSD 22 birds/m2). Basal diets were formulated for starter, grower, and finisher phases. Growth performance, litter quality (litter pH, moisture, temperature, and NH3 volatilization), serum and litter boron levels, and incidence and severity of FPD were recorded. The HSD affected the body weight gain and feed intake of broiler chickens during all phases and 0 to 42 (P < 0.05), whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) was poor at 0 to 21 days only. Dietary boric acid had no effect on the growth performance of broiler chickens. Litter pH, moisture, and NH3 volatilization were higher in broiler chickens subjected to HSD (P < 0.05). Thus, the incidence and severity of FPD increased in response to HSD (P < 0.05). Dietary boric acid reduced the litter pH and NH3 volatilization on day 42 of experiment (P < 0.05). However, dietary boric acid supplementation had no effect on the incidence and severity of FPD. Boric acid supplementation in broiler diets increased the serum and litter boron levels at day 42 in broiler chickens subjected to NSD or HSD (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HSD resulted in poor growth performance, litter quality, and greater incidence and severity of FPD in broiler chickens. Dietary boric acid was ineffective against FPD in broiler chickens although it improved the litter quality by lowering the litter pH and NH3 volatilization.

Effects of stocking density on the performance, tibia mineralization, and the expression of hypothalamic appetite genes in broiler chickens

“…Previous studies found that HSD decreases the feed intake of broilers (Wang et al, 2014;Madilindi et al, 2018;Cengiz et al, 2018;Sanchez-Casanova et al, 2019;Magnuson et al, 2020;McKeith et al, 2020); however, scanty literature was reported about the mechanism of this action. Hypothalamus plays a critical role in the appetite regulation (Harrold et al, 2012;Everaert et al, 2019).…”

Evaluation of the Interaction between Gum Arabic Addition and Stocking Density on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and General Health Parameters of Broiler Chickens

“…Ghanima et al [2] reported that a high stocking density has a negative impact on performance indicators of broiler chickens. A high stocking density deteriorates litter and air quality by increasing litter moisture and the volatilization of ammonia, which negatively affects growth performance during the grower stage due to the increasing size of chickens [31]. In addition, the disruption of gut microbial ecology that supports digestion, absorption, and production of beneficial molecules may contribute to poor growth performance of broiler chickens raised at 22-42 and 1-42 days of age at high stocking density [32].…”

Egg‐laying capacity of parent flock geese at different stocking densities

“…Cengiz et al (2018) found that an increase in stocking density leads to a positive economic effect, ensuring that it does not exceed the optimal range from 34 to 40 kg/m 2 with an average final body weight of 2.5 kg.…”

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