Peculiarities of rearing poultry by floor method on deep bedding

Abstract

In poultry rearing on deep bedding systems, microorganisms that cause infectious diseases develop within the bedding. This study aimed to determine the physical properties and microbial accumulation capacity of different types of bedding. Methods used included thermo-programmed desorption mass spectrometry, microbiological methods, and scanning electron microscopy. The hygroscopic properties of straw bedding deteriorated by 269.90% from the seventh to the fortysecond day. In the experimental room, where a dry disinfectant was added to the straw bedding, the hygroscopic capacity was 86.70% at the end of the experiment, a difference of 183.2%. Wood shavings bedding, with the addition of disinfectant, exhibited a water absorption capacity 102.82% higher than the control on the forty-second day. Granulated bedding with disinfectant retained moisture 150.33% better compared to the control. At the end of the experiment, the pH of straw bedding was 8.13 in the control group compared to 7.56 in the treated group; for wood shavings was 7.95 versus 7.16; and for granule was 7.35 versus 6.35, due to the use of the disinfectant. At the conclusion of the experiment, granulated bedding exhibited the lowest pH compared to straw and wood shavings, affecting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Monitoring of microorganisms in the bedding revealed the presence of bacteria: Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella pullorum, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Listeria monocytogenes, as well as microscopic fungi: Fusarium sporotrichioides, Aspergillus niger, and Eimeria oocysts. The use of disinfectant reduced bacterial contamination of straw bedding by 12.35-199.19%, fungal contamination by 633.91-1959.14%, and Eimeria by 676.50%. In the wood shavings bedding, bacterial contamination was reduced by 32.84-257.93%, fungal contamination by 487.08-1098.4%, and Eimeria by 570.21%. Granulated bedding showed reduced bacterial accumulation by 50.93-228.87%, fungal accumulation by 169.89-500.9%, and Eimeria by 301.56%. The practical significance of this study lies in the improved physical properties of poultry bedding and the reduction in bacterial, fungal, and Eimeria oocyst accumulation