Performance, carcass characteristics and litter moisture in broilers housed at two densities

• Autor(a) principal: Gopinger, Edenilse
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Avila, Valdir Silveira De, Perondi, Dani [UNESP], Catalan, Aiane Aparecida Da Silva, Krabbe, Everton Luis, Roll, Victor Fernando Büttow
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v37i1.24732; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/211947
• topic: chickens; feed intake; stocking; environment; pododermatitis; welfare; aves; consumo de ração; lotação; ambiência; pododermatite; bem-estar

The effect of stocking density in broiler chickens (11.08 and 13.20 birdsm-2), between 5 and 45 days of age, was assessed with regard to performance, cut yield, litter moisture and frequency of pododermatitis injuries. Further, 476 one-day chicks Cobb 500(r) were distributed in a completely randomized design at two densities (birds m-²), with seven replications per treatment in 14 experimental units. Birds housed at a lower density (11.08) increased feed intake (p < 0.05), without any effect on weight gain and feed conversion. Retail yields were not influenced (p > 0.05) by treatments. In the case of higher density (3.20) the litter showed higher moisture content (p < 0.05) at 28 and 35 days of age. There was a higher occurrence of pododermatitis in birds housed at a density of 13.20 birds m-2. Results show that increased housing density from 11.08 to 13.20 birds m-2 does not affect growth performance, carcass yield and cuts. However, a housing density of 13.20 birdsm-2 increased litter moisture and provided a higher occurrence of grade I pododermatitis.