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. .....摘要：本研究于莱索托国立大学开展，旨在筛选适用于肉鸡生产的潜在垫料材料。本研究采用完全随机试验设计，设置4种垫料处理组，每组重复3次。实验使用通风良好的鸡舍，内部划分为12个饲养盘，每个饲养盘（即每个重复组）饲养15只肉鸡，总受试鸡数量为(n=180)。试验全程采用自由采食与自由饮水模式，并严格遵循肉鸡生产的常规饲养流程。垫料处理组以木屑作为对照组，分别与干燥松针、腐熟圈肥及沙子进行对比。所有垫料均以10 cm厚度铺设。本研究采集的指标涵盖肉鸡生产性能、足部健康状况以及垫料的理化性质。结果表明，垫料材料对肉鸡的采食量、体重、体重增益、饲料转化率及死亡率均无显著影响。就肉鸡足部健康而言，垫料处理对脚垫皮炎具有显著影响，但对胫部灼伤及肉鸡体温的影响无统计学差异。垫料特性评估结果显示，不同来源的垫料在氨气排放量、持水能力、pH值及容重方面均存在显著差异，而垫料温度在各组间无显著差异。……