The Effect of Floor Type on the Development of Breast Blisters and Feather Follicle Infections in Broilers

Abstract

The effect of floor types on the incidence of feather follicle infection and breast blisters in caged broilers was investigated in two trials. Broilers were reared on corn-soybean meal diets with warm-room brooding. Floor types included litter (control), wire, wire covered with various types of plastic mats, and wire woven with surgical tubing. In trial 1, the effect of a coccidiostat (monensin, 120 mg/kg of feed) was investigated for broilers not on litter, and in trial 2, the effect of supplemental zinc was investigated.Broilers were processed in the laboratory processing plant when they were 51 (trial 1) and 53 days old (trial 2). Carcasses were evaluated for the occurrence of fleshing downgrades, crooked keels, feather follicle infection, and breast blisters. Incidence of feather follicle infection was low for broilers on litter or wire floor and high for broilers reared on plastic mats. Breast blister incidence was low for broilers on litter and plastic mats and was high for broilers on the wire floor. Overall carcass quality for litter (control) was superior to any of the cage treatments. Neither the coccidiostat nor supplemental zinc affected the incidence of breast blisters or feather follicle infection.