engleski

Impact of litter type and stocking density on broiler weight gain

In this study, weight gains were compared between broilers reared at different litter types and stocking densities. The study included a total of 200 broilers during a 6-week fattening period assigned to four treatments. Two groups of broilers were reared at chopped straw, and the other two on sand, at low (12 chickens/m2) and high stocking densities (20 chickens/m2) (n=50 each group). Weight gain was calculated as a difference of mean initial and final body weights of ten randomly selected broilers from each group. Study results revealed broiler weight gain to be significantly lower (P<0.05) in the group reared on sand at high stocking density as compared to all other groups, broilers reared on sand at low stocking density and straw at low and high stocking densities, with no between-group differences. It is concluded that sand as a litter material was an acceptable alternative to chopped straw only at low stocking density. Also, stocking density had no impact on weight gain in broilers reared on straw, suggesting that uniform body weights can be achieved at different stocking densities by good farm management when rearing broilers on chopped straw.

broilers, litter, straw, sand, stocking density, weight gain

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