Performance and Carcass Quality of Broilers Reared on Wire Flooring, Plastic Inserts, Wood Slats, or Plastic-Coated Expanded Metal Flooring Each with or Without Padded Roosts ,

Abstract

Commercial straight-run broilers were reared on raised flooring in two experiments to study the effects on broiler performance and carcass quality of padded roosts and four raised floor types – wire, wood slats, plastic inserts over wire (Experiment 1) and plastic-coated expanded metal – and added dietary zinc bacitracin (Zb) at a level of 40 g per ton (909 kg) of feed (Experiment 2).In both experiments mean body weights, feed conversion ratios, percentages of mortality, and percentages of deformed legs were not significantly different among floor types. Floor types did not affect incidence of foot pad dermatitis or percent of body fat in Experiment 1 or folliculitis in Experiment 2.Feather soilage and folliculitis were significantly greater (P<.05) in broilers reared on wood slats with and without padded roosts than in birds reared on wire and plastic inserts. Occurrence of breast blisters was greater (P<.05) in broilers reared on wire without padded roosts than in birds reared on wood and plastic insert floor types. Feather soilage scores were significantly lower (P<.05) in broilers reared on wire both with and without padded roosts than for birds reared on expanded metal. Foot pad dermatitis scores and percentages of breast blisters were significantly higher (P<.05) in broilers reared on wire without padded roosts than for birds reared on wire with padded roosts or on expanded metal with and without padded roosts. Incidence of indented keels was significantly higher (P<.05) in broilers reared on wire and extended metal floors with roosts than for birds reared without roosts. The feeding of Zb did not affect broiler performance and carcass quality. Wood slats and plastic-coated expanded metal flooring with padded roosts showed some promise as raised floor types for rearing broilers.