The effects of different litter material on broiler performance and feet health.

Abstract

The study was implemented at the National University of Lesotho with the aim to find a potential litter material for use in broiler production. The study followed a completely randomized design with four litter treatments replicated three times. A well ventilated house divided into 12 pans was used where each pan or a replicate contain 15 birds with a total of (n=180) birds. Feeding and watering were done on ad libitum basis while the normal routine for broiler production was followed. Litter treatments were made up of control represented by wood shaving and it was compared to dried pine leaves, decomposed kraal manure and sand. All litter materials were applied at the depth of 10 cm. Data was collected on the following parameters broiler production, feet health and chemical and physical properties. Litter material treatment had no significant influence on feed intake, body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio and mortality rate. Regarding broiler feet health litter treatment had significant influence on foot pad dermatitis while hock burns and broiler temperature were not statistically different amongst litter treatments. Litter evaluation results revealed that different litter sources were differing significantly in terms ammonia emissions, water holding capacity. pH and bulk density while litter temperature did not differ significantly between litter treatments. It was concluded that both dried pine leave and decomposed kraal manure are potential sources that could replace wood shavings in broiler production. Dried pine leaves ideal for improved production while decomposed kraal manure deemed fit for ensure good feet health. It is therefore recommended that farmers in Lesotho can use both decomposed kraal manure and dried pine leaves to replace wood shavings.

Effect of different types of available litter materials on the performance and welfare of broiler chicks

“…This nding is probably because of the differences in the quality of the litter types. Similar to our result, the birds raised on sand litter had healthier FPD than those raised on wheat and bean straw litters (Bilgili et al, 1999;Balabel, 2005 andKuleile et al, 2019). Also, Ferrante et al, (2006) reported that feather scoring and footpad lesions were negatively affected by straw litter compared to wood shavings and sand.…”

“…The ndings of our study are in full agreement with the ndings of Gernat (2009), who declared that sand had the lowest temperatures that positively affected bird's body temperatures, particularly under summer season. Also, Kuleile et al, (2019) found that body temperature of the birds raised on wood shavings litter increased gradually while those reared on sand recorded lower body temperature than of all studied litter materials.…”

“…Regarding litter temperature, these results fully agreed withAtencio et al, (2010), who reported that litter surface temperatures were signi cantly higher for WS, RH and SP compared to sand alone. The lower temperature of litter surface found under SL could contribute to improving house environment, which was positively affected the nal body weight(Kuleile et al, 2019). In the same context, each type of litter has different moisture content that may be due to its unique characteristics as reported by Brake et al,(1992).…”

“…Availability of these substances will continue to decline as a result of rapid growth in broiler production, limited natural resources, competition with other industries, expanding lignocellulosicbased biofuel production, gradual ban of the cage system, use in animal feed, etc. (Ramadan et al, 2013;Kuleile et al, 2019;Monckton et al, 2020;Diarra et al, 2021 andFarghly et al, 2021a).…”

“…As a result of several factors including unavailability, scarce supplies and increasing cost of these bedding materials is now a big problem for producers. In turn, numerous broiler producers and researchers are forced to look for alternative bedding materials for commercial poultry (Farghly et al, 2015;Kuleile et al, 2019;Abougabal, 2020 andMonckton, et al, 2020). During the past decade, several attempts have been made by using organic substances for bedding such as wood sawdust, wheat straw, chopped rice straw, rice hulls, corn stalks, corn ear husks, sugarcane stalks, clover straw, chopped palm ber, palm spines chips and other different types of grasses (Karousa et Despite all these attempts under Egyptian conditions, many efforts for testing and utilizing more available bedding substances alternatively to wheat straw and wood by-products are needed.…”