The effects of various floor details on leg disorders of broilers raised on litter-slat systems with perch

ABSTRACT THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS FLOOR DETAILS ON LEG DISORDERS OF BROILERS RAISED ON LITTER AND LITTER-SLAT SYSTEMS WITH PERCH ÖZGÜR BARIŞ BIRGUL M.Sc. Thessis, Department of Animal Science Adviser: Prof. Dr. Salim MUTAF April 2005, 71 Pages In this research, the aim was to determine the effects of various floor details on leg disorders of broilers raised on litter and litter-slat systems with perch. Therefore, angular bone deformations, tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), foot and hock burns, uncoordinated walks, tibia and femur dimensions were investigated. Mass gains and feed consumptions of broilers were also calculated, and capability of perch use observed in order to determine the movement ability of broilers, between 4th and 7th weeks. In this experiment, five experiment groups were used as horizontal perch, 10° angular perch, 20° angular perch, 40° angular ladder perch and control. The experiment was lasted at seven weeks. There weren't significant differences among the groups for live mass and for group and sex interaction. However, sex effect was significant (P<0.01). The highest food consumption was found in 10° angular perch group (4975.67±493.1 g) and there were significant differences between this one and the other groups (P<0.01). Food consumption ratio was similar among groups, however, the best food consumption ratio was found in the horizontal perch group (1.526±0.039). The total mortality was 3.50 % and was due to leg disorders 14.28 %. Foot and hock burns showed an increase and walking ability decreased birds ageel. It was determined that birds with normal walking ability was 71.8 %, birds walking with limp was 26.6 % and extreme walking defect was 1.68 % in the whole flock. ivPercentage of perch use decreased as the birds ageel. The highest perch use was seen in the horizontal perch group. The differences between the other groups and this one were significant (P<0.01). The lowest perch use was 40° angular ladder perch group. The highest angular bone deformation was found in control group (16.083±1.386°) and there were significant differences between the others groups (P<0.01). The highest TD rate was seen in the control group and it was the lowest in the horizontal perch group. Incidence of TD was 25.84 %. There weren't significant differences between the groups for tibia and femur bone morphological parametres but sex effect was found significant (P<0.01). Tibia bone volume were insignificant among but sex effect was significant. Tibia bone strenght had significant differences among groups and between sexes (P<0.01). There were significant differences between the groups as regards tibia bone calcium and phosphorus (P<0.01). The highest calcium was in 10° angular perch (11.99±0.17 %), the lowest was in control (10.60±0.53 %). The highest phosphorus was in 40° angular ladder perch group (7.43±0.12 %) and the lowest was in control (6.22±0.16 %). There were significant differences between the weeks and sex effects for carcass mass (P<0.01) and there weren't significant differences among the groups and the group and sex interactions. Male broiler carcass mass was higher than that of females. There were significant differences among the groups and weeks for carcass effiency (P<0.01) and there weren't any significant differences between sexes. KEYWORDS : Broiler, tibial dyschondroplasia, angular bone deformation, perch use, bone strenght. COMMYTTEE: Prof. Dr. Salim MUTAF Prof. Dr. Servet YALÇIN AssocProf. Dr. Tülin AKSOY