Comparison of Rice Hull Products as Litter Material and Dietary Fat Levels on Turkey Poult Performance

Abstract

Ground rice hulls (GRH), whole rice hulls (WRH), or an equal mixture of whole rice hulls and wood shavings (WRH + WS) were compared with wood shavings (WS) as a suitable litter material for turkey poults. Body weights, feed consumption, and the incidence of leg abnormalities, breast blisters, and foot pad lesions of the birds reared on the different litter material were assessed at 3, 5, 7, and 8 weeks of age. Composite samples of litter materials were examined quantitatively at 4, 6, 7, and 8 weeks of age for percent moisture and bacterial and fungal populations. Poults were fed a starter ration supplemented with either 0 or 3% fat for 3 weeks, after which a grower diet containing 3% added fat was fed to all birds.Rice hull products produced no adverse effects upon poult performance (mortality, body weights, feed conversion, breast blisters, leg abnormalities, or foot pad lesions). However, the physical characteristics of GRH caused clumps to adhere to the toes of the poults. Approximately 2% of the 180 poults reared on GRH were affected. The condition disappeared once the birds started to scratch in the litter, which tended to break-up the thin layer of excreta on the surface of the GRH. The moisture content of the litter treatments did not differ significantly for the periods sampled. Bacterial and fungal populations were not significantly influenced by dietary treatment or litter type. These results indicate that rice hull products (WRH or WRH + WS) are a suitable litter for turkey poults. Supplementing 3% fat to the starter diet significantly increased growth at 3, 4, and 8 weeks of age. Turkey poults apparently have the capacity to utilize moderate levels of dietary fat during the early growing stage.