Broiler Rearing Research Articles

A Comparison of Bone Strengths from Broilers Reared Under Various Conditions in Coops and Floor Pens

A series of four trials was conducted to compare the influence of several design variables on the strength of bones from coop and floor-reared broilers. So that the activity of coop-reared broilers would increase, a fan system intermittently forced air up through the bottom of the coops. Because the broilers became accustomed to the intermittent force of air, the induced extra activity decreased after the first 7 days of fan use. No differences in bone strength were observed in broilers reared in the control and fan-treated coops. Broilers reared in floor pens with a screen covering placed at a height equal to the height of the coops (29 cm) had significantly (P<.01) weaker wing bones than floor-reared controls. When the height of the screen was increased to 46 cm, no significant difference was observed in the strength of wing bones of broilers in the screened and control pens.

Cage Rearing of Broilers

Three experiments were conducted with broilers to ascertain the feasibility of growing broilers in cages. Broilers were reared on rice hull litter, plastic mesh and rubber covered nylon floors (RCN). Data from these experiments indicate that broilers could be grown to heavy weights under crowded conditions without an incidence of breast blisters and without any detrimental effect to body weight when RCN was used as a flooring material.There was a high incidence of breast blisters or broilers reared on the plastic mesh supported by 5.08 × 10.16 cm. welded wire to either 8 or 9 weeks of age. The heavier broilers developed more and larger breast blisters. Broilers reared on suspended plastic mesh displayed fewer breast blisters when compared to broilers reared on the plastic mesh supported by 5.08 × 10.16 cm. welded wire.Body weights of broilers reared on plastic mesh or RCN at densities of 2.8 and 3.7 dm2. per broiler were equal to or heavier than body weights of broilers grown on litter. As bird density increased, the body weight of the broilers decreased.Feed efficiencies were calculated on only the first two experiments because of the apparent feed wastage when the broilers were reared in cages.