Performance and carcass characteristics of broilers raised on three different litter materials

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the impact of three litter materials (saw dust, wood shavings and rice husks) on the performance and carcass characteristics of broilers chicks. In the first or second trial, a total of 120 one-day-old or 96 five-week-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to three groups, each of which included four replicates (10 or 8 chicks per replicate). In both trials, each group was reared on three litter materials, respectively, and received the same starter (the 1 st trial) and finisher (the 2 nd trial) diet for 35 days. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survivability during the experimental period were measured as performance parameters. At the end of the 2 nd trial, three birds were randomly selected from each replicate group and slaughtered for carcass evaluation. In the 1 st trial, FI of birds reared on rice husks was significantly (P < 0.05) lower feed than those reared on the other litter materials. The decrease of FI on rice husks may be due the scavenged broken rice particles from the litter. BWG, FCR and survivability were not affected by the type of litter material. In the 2 nd trial, FCR of the birds on rice husks was significantly (P < 0.05) improved compared with those on the other litter materials. FI, BWG and survivability were not affected by the type of litter materials. Also, the weight of carcass or organ was not affected by the type of litter materials. In conclusion, rice husks proved to be slightly better as litter material for broiler rearing among the available litter materials in Nigeria.