Effect of different types of available litter materials on the performance and welfare of broiler chicks

Abstract

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of some locally available litter materials and their impacts on productivity, health status, carcass traits and welfare as well as the economic efficiency of broiler chickens reared on these types of litter. A total of 450 one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into equal five experimental groups, three replicates each. The groups of five different litter materials were as follows; wood shaving (WD), wheat straw (WS), sand (SL), bean straw (BS) and rice husk (RH). Physical and physicochemical characteristics of litter types were measured at 7, 21 and 42 days of age. The results indicated that each type of litter had unique physical and physicochemical characteristics and affected the most studied traits. Compared to the other groups, WD and SL significantly improved growth performance (BWG, ADG, final LBW, FI, FCR and EPEI). Moreover, WD and SL improved (P < 0.05) the economic efficiency, behavior patterns, and birds’ welfare. It is concluded that among the available litter materials tested in this study, sand can be used as an alternative litter of straw- and rice husk-based litter for broiler chickens without adverse implications on birds’ performance and welfare.