Wheat Straw Litter Research Articles

Efficacy of Aluminum Sulfate Addition to Poultry Litter on Productive Performance of Laying Hens, Ammonia Emissions, and Litter Quality

The objective of this research was to examine whether different types of litter (New, used, and mixed) and alum could interfere in litter quality, thereby also influencing the productive performance of laying hens. A total number of 450 Inshas chickens aged 24 weeks were randomly distributed into six groups (5 replicates, each with 15 hens) of floor litter. The groups included (G1) new wheat straw litter, (G2) used wheat straw litter, (G3) mixed wheat straw litter (50% new+50% used) and (4, 5 and 6) the same litter types in groups 1, 2 and 3 supplied with 500g of alum /m2 litter. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. Laying hens productive parameters, blood parameters, carcass parameters, respiratory rate, coliform count and pH, as well as ammonia emission, litter quality were assessed. The results showed that the litter type significantly affects the level of ammonia emission, litter characteristics, carcass characteristics, intestinal pH and coliform count, blood characteristics (T3, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, hemoglobin, and PCV), as well as the body weight gain. In general, we found that reused litter followed by the mixed litter without added alum resulted in the lowest efficiency on the studied traits, as compared to the same types of litter treated with alum and the new litter. We therefore conclude that the addition of alum reduces ammonia emission and improves the characteristics of the litter, which is reflected in enhancement of productive performance and properties of blood and carcass.

Reducing ammonia emission by aluminum sulfate addition in litter and its influence on productive, reproductive, and physiological parameters of dual-purpose breeding hens.

This research investigated the impact of aluminum sulfate (AS) as amendment to different types of litter (new, reused, and mixed litters) for reducing ammonia emission and improving productive performance of local dual-purpose breeding hens. A total of 450 hens and 60 cocks from the Inshas strain were randomly assigned to six groups (five replicates each of 15 hens + 2 cocks) raised in pen floor furnished with a wheat straw litter. The groups included: (1) new, (2) reused, (3) mixed (50% new + 50% reused) litter; the other groups (4, 5 and 6) were respectively housed on the same litter as groups 1, 2 and 3 but with the addition of 495g of AS/m2 litter. The feed conversion ratio was better for layers raised on new litter with or without AS than other groups. Different kinds of litter had different moisture (p < 0.05) and pH (p < 0.05) values. Birds raised on litter types treated with AS significantly (p < 0.05) decreased intestinal pH and decreased total bacterial count compared to the same litter types without AS at the end of the experiment. Birds raised on new litter supplemented with AS had the highest plasma T3, total protein, globulin, Hgb, and PCV% and the lowest levels of uric acid and cholesterol at the end of the experimental period. Therefore, litter amendment with AS, also the mixed or reused one, could be recommended to reduce ammonia and, in turn, increasing plasma T3 and decreasing total bacterial count, leading to increasing bird's performance.

Use of Palm Wastes as Alternative Flooring Materials in Broiler Chickens Houses under Prevailing Conditions in New Valley

A total number of 180 one day old chicks of cobb broiler were used to investigate the effects of different types of floor made from palm wastes on growth performance and carcass traits of broiler. The study included six groups of treatments; (wheat straw litter, wire net, plastic net, wooden slats, palm fiber mate and palm stem slats floors). The achieved results showed that the floor types had significant (P≤0.05) effect on final body weight and feed conversion. Wooden slats and palm stem slats floors had significant superiority of body weight and gain over the broiler reared on wire net, plastic net and palm fiber mate floors. Also, feed conversion of broiler reared on wheat straw litter, plastic net, wooden slats and palm stem slats floors had significant superiority values over the broiler reared on wire net and palm fiber floors. Birds reared on wheat straw litter, wooden slats and palm stem floors had significantly higher carcass percentage as compared to those of wire net . The lowest percentage of abdominal fat is recorded for broilers raised on wire net floor, plastic net and palm fiber net floors in comparison with those raised on wheat straw . Broilers raised on wheat straw litter, wooden and palm stem slats floor had significantly lower leg problems than those of birds raised on wire net floor and palm fiber net floors. From the economic efficiency, it could be concluded that wooden slats and palm stem slats floors best being used for managing broilers.

Effect of Alum (Aluminum Sulfate) Addition to Poultry Litter on Layer Performance, Litter pH and Litter Composition

The current experiment was conducted to assess the effect of using different litter types with or without alum on performance and litter quality of the hen layers. A total number of 120 Inshas layer hens of 24 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 4 groups (3 replicates each 10 hens) of floor litter: T1 birds were raised on wood shaving litter, T2 birds were raised on wheat straw litter, T3 birds were raised wood shaving with 100 g of alum / kg of bedding, and T4 birds were raised on wheat straw litter with 100 g of alum / kg of bedding. Topping of fresh litter with acidifier amendment improved body weight, egg weight, egg number, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of layers compared to chickens in the untreated litter group. In comparison with the control group, alum treatment reduced the pH level of the litter. Regarding the NH4+-N content, alum-treated litter showed a higher value than the untreated litter. On average, alum-treated litter had lower P content than the untreated litter. Alum treated group showed a significant increase in dry matter and total nitrogen content when compared with the untreated group. The study results showed significant variability (p &lt; .05) in the moisture content and pH of the control and treated litter. This clearly shows the effectiveness of litter treatment products enhancing litter quality and therefore the bird’s environmental climate. Thus it can be decided that litter modification with alum treatment had a significant impact on litter quality and in turn enhanced the productive performance of layer chickens without any adverse effect.

EVALUATION OF CLOVER AND CORN STALKS STRAW AS ALTERNATIVE LITTER MATERIALS TO WHEAT STRAW FOR RAISING LOCAL TURKEY

SUMMARY A total number of one hundred and eighty birds aged 8 weeks were randomly assigned into three equal groups to investigate the effect of using clover and corn stalks straw as alternative litter materials on growth performance, carcass characteristics, leg problems, breast blisters, airborne and litter conditions of local turkey. Birds in the first group were raised on wheat straw litter and were considered the control (C). While the second, and third groups (T1 and T2) were raised on clover and corn stalks straw, respectively. All experimental birds were raised under similar environmental and managerial conditions. Body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion, carcass weights, airborne dust particulates, litter pH and bacterial count were not different between treatments. However, the incidence of leg problems and breast blisters were decreased with clover litter. Otherwise, corn stalks chips decreased litter moisture percentage, caking score and ammonia concentrations inside the poultry house, which positively reflected on the health condition of the birds. From these results and economical efficiency, it could be concluded that, using clover and corn stalks straw as economical alternative litter materials for local turkey is highly recommended.

Anaerobic digestion of spent bedding from deep litter piggery housing

This paper investigates spent litter from deep litter piggery housing as a potential substrate for farm-scale anaerobic digestion. Degradability and degradation rates were evaluated under mesophilic conditions for unused, lightly soiled (used by weaner/small pigs), and heavily soiled (used by finishing/large pigs) wheat straw, barley straw, and rice husks bedding. Apparent first order hydrolysis rate coefficients varied, but were comparable across all samples analysed (<0.1 day −1). Spent wheat straw was generally more degradable (approximately 60%) than spent barley straw, while spent barley straw was comparable to raw straw (40–50%), but with higher hydrolysis rates, indicating better accessibility. Rice husks were relatively poorly degradable (<20%), but degradability was improved by weathering in a pig shed. Digestion of spent barley and wheat straw litter was significantly faster (approximately twice the rate) at low (8% solids) than high (14% solids) solids loading. Rice husks degradation kinetics were not significantly influenced by solids concentration. Intrinsic methanogenic activity of heavily soiled spent wheat straw and rice husks bedding was initially poor, but achieved full activity after 40–60 days, indicating that reactor operation without external inoculum may be possible with care.