Abstract
The study focused on the performances of broilers raised under different floor space areas and flock sizes in deep litter housing. Pens’ floor areas (F1S = 2400 cm2, F2S = 2600 cm2, F3S = 2800 cm2 and F4S = 3000 cm2) were used with each housing 4 birds and also 4 levels of flock sizes at constant floor space area variations (S1D = 2800 cm2, S2D = 4200 cm2, S3D = 5600 cm2 and S4D = 7000 cm2) housing n = 4, 6, 8 and 10 birds, respectively. Among the parameters measured were weight gains by birds, litter weights- its dry matter content and pH values and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Proximate analysis of broiler meat was done for meat quality evaluation. Floor space (FS) had significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on the birds’ weights gain and weights’ uniformities and growth; FS also had significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on the litter weights, dry matter content and pH values of the litter. Also, statistical differences were observed for all the proximate values in F3S and S1D and in F1S cells. The 2800 cm2 of 4 birds at 700 cm2/bird floor geometry gave highest weight gain (199.3 g ± 4.28), carcass dressed weight (1450.0 g ± 5.66) and FCR (7.88 ± 0.13) at both floor space area/floor geometry (FS) and flock size/stocking density (SD) variations. The 2800 cm2 of 4 birds at 700 cm2/bird floor space was considered best in the research.Key words: carcass dressed weights, dry matter, feed conversion ratio floor geometryflock size
Highlights
Poultry farming is important among livestock farming in the world especially of recent because of many benefits that are derived from it (Agric Business, 2010)
The normal temperature of adult chickens depends on the breed and liveweight and they stay to their wider range of thermo-comfort level of temperature since they are biologically equipped to cope with fluctuating temperatures diurnally and seasonally (Bruce, 1987)
Four different floor space (FS) areas F1S = 2400 cm2, F2S = 2600 cm2, F3S = 2800 cm2 and F4S = 3000 cm2 were stocked with 4 birds each, making floor spaces to be 600 cm2, 650 cm2, 700 cm2 and 750 cm2 per bird respectively for varying floor spaces at constant flock size (SD)
Summary
Poultry farming is important among livestock farming in the world especially of recent because of many benefits that are derived from it (Agric Business, 2010). Table meat as broilers sometimes called are reared under intensive care deep litter housing in which birds are kept on floors laid with litter (Vegetarian Society, 2003). Feddes et al, (1999) stated that high flock sizes ( called stocking densities) could cause stress to broiler chickens in several ways, like difficulty in dissipating heat from their bodies, poor air space quality due to inadequate air exchange, increased in ammonia levels and difficulty for birds in their equal access to feed and water. Study in flock size for a particular total floor space litter housing for broilers needs to be researched. No environmental factor can be treated in isolation since all of them have
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