BEHAVIOUR, WELFARE AND PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS REARED ON DIFFERENT LITTER MATERIALS

Abstract

Two hundred forty day-old Ross broiler chicks were used in this experiment. Chicks were weighed on arrival and randomly assigned to six litter treatments (20 birds per pen) with two replicates for each treatment. The litter treatment consists of six different litter types: Wood shavings (WS), whole rice straw (straw), sand, rice straw covered by a layer of wood shavings (WS + straw), sand covered with wood shavings (WS + sand) and sand covered by a layer of rice straw (straw + sand). Behavioral observation was carried out twice daily, two days a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Body weight (BW) and Feed intake per pen were measured weekly, from which body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. At 42 days of age, welfare parameters were measured including fear, stress, fluctuating asymmetry, feather score and leg health and problems. Also, some carcass traits and moisture content of the litter were assessed. Dead birds were recorded for each treatment. Results revealed that birds reared on (WS + sand) exhibited significantly higher feeding behavior, BW and BWG than birds reared on straw and (straw + sand). Bedding types had no significant effect (p>.05) on feeding behavior and other productive performance when litters were used separately (WS, straw or sand). Standing and walking behaviors decreased on sand and wood shavings whereas sitting increased. Contrarily, birds reared on straw and (straw + sand) beddings exhibited significantly more standing and walking behaviors and less sitting behavior. FCR and welfare parameters were not affected by the type of litter materials either used separately or in combination. Percentage of gizzard to live weight was significantly higher in birds reared on wood shavings. Percentage of heart to live weight was significantly higher in birds reared on (WS + sand). Other carcass traits were not affected by litter types. Straw had significantly more moisture content compared to other litter types whereas sand had significantly lower moisture content compared to straw (WS + straw). It is concluded that, behaviors of broiler chicks affected by different bedding types. Rice straw and sand could be used as alternative bedding materials to wood shavings without adverse implications of birds performance and welfare.