Investigation of relationships between litter type and stocking density in broilers

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of three different types of litters and the three different stocking densities on the broiler performance to find out alternatives.Four hundred and thirty-two day old chicks of Ross 308 breed were used in this experiment. The groups involved in the study were constituted based on 3x3x3 factorial design experiment considering litter types and stocking density. Wood shavings, rice hulls and dried alfalfa hay were used as litter materials while stocking densities were arranged as 13, 16 and 19 birds/m2. The experiment continued for 42 days and birds were fed with commercial broiler starter feed during the 0-21 days and broiler growing feed during 21-42 days of the trial.Live weight measures based on stocking densities and litter types were taken at the beginning of the experiment, at the 21st day and at the 42nd day of the trial.The live weight of the birds in the stocking density of 16 birds/m2 where the wood shavings were used as litter material was found to be incidentally smaller than the other groups at the beginning of the experiment (P<0.05). The average live weights of the birds at the 21 day of age in the stocking density of 19/m2 was lowest for all the litter groups among the other density groups (P<0.05).The average live weights for the groups with 13 and 16 birds/m2 groups at 21st day of age was not different in each of the 3 litter types. Mean live weights at the end of the study (42nd day) was similar to the results of the 21st day considering the 19 birds/m2 stocking density group as displayed the lowest values (P<0.05).There were no differences between the groups regarding the feed consumption at the end of the 42 days rearing period. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) for the stocking density of 13 bird/m2, 16 bird /m2, 19/ bird m2 for the birds reared on the wood shavings, rice hulls and dried alfalfa hay were 2.09±0.04 , 2.02±0.03, 2.09±0.02, 2.39±0.03, 2.18±0.09, 2.30±0.07, 2.86±0.05, 2.64±0.05 and 2.74±0.17 respectively. The FCR of the birds with the stocking density of 16 birds /m2 and 19 bird /m2 and raised on the rice hulls litter was significantly lower than the birds reared on the wood shaving litter (P<0.05).No significant difference was determined between the litter and density groups in terms of mortality.The incidence of foot pad necrosis in the groups with the stocking density of 13birds/m2 and 16 birds/m2 were significantly higher in the birds reared on dried alfalfa hay litter compared to the birds reared on wood shavings and rice hulls litter (P<0.05). The incidence of foot pad necrosis in the group with the stocking density of 19 birds /m2 was significantly higher than the other two stocking density groups (P<0.05).No breast blister occurrence was observed at the end of the study in any of the groups.It was concluded that stocking density should not exceed the 16 birds/m2 and either wood shavings or rice hulls should be used as litter material for rapid growth as well as for the prevention from carcass defects in profitable broiler chicken production.Key Words: Litter, Breast Blister, Broiler, Stocking Density, Foot Pad Necrosis