The effects of reused litter materials on broiler performances and litter properties

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of reused different litter materials (wood shavings, rice hulls+hazelnut husks, hazelnut husks, wheat stalks and rice hulls) on broiler performance and the litter properties. In trial, from one day to 49 days old age 750 broilers grown at Randomized Pilot Design with three replications for each of litter group in 15 pens. Average body weight, feed conversion, production indices, dressing percentage, litter relative moisture values were determined as; 2499.36±18.74, 2490.06±18.75. 2453.08±18.89, 2480.68±19.05 and 2473.87±18.94 g; 2.00±0.03, 1.99±0.03. 2.00±0.02, 2.06±0.02 ve 2.03±0.04; 257.05±9.26, 254.08±6.69, 250.92±7.85, 233.15±5.35, and 238.50±12.68; %74.90±0.29, %75.68±0.88, %74.38±0.63, %75.68±0.40 and %74.62±0.38; %30.93±1.06, %30.77±0.89, %32.21±1.19, %31.42±1.04 and %32.10±1.97 respectively. Body weight, feed conversion, dressing percentage, litter relative moisture values, production indices were not affected by reused litter types (P>0.05). Mortality rates were determined as; 0.0%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 5.3% and 2.7% respectively, on the groups reared on the wheat stalks had higher mortality rates than other groups. Breast blister and leg abnormality problems were not observed in trial.