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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #117267
Title: EFFECT OF STOCKING DENSITY ON BROILER PERFORMANCE USING SAND AND WOOD SHAVINGS AS BROILER BEDDING MATERIAL

Author
item Miles, Dana
item Lott, Berry
item May, James
item Simmons, John
item Branton, Scott

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2001
Publication Date: 3/1/2001
Citation: Miles, D.M., Lott, B.D., May, J.D., Simmons, J.D., Branton, S.L. 2001. Effect of stocking density on broiler performance using sand and wood shavings as broiler bedding material [abstract]. Poultry Science 80S:15.

Interpretive Summary: None required.

Technical Abstract: Heightened awareness regarding broiler litter utilization has prompted much research activity in source management as well as continued interest in agronomic management practices. Sand is emerging as a popular bedding material alternative to wood shavings. Lengthening the time to full house clean out is the driving force for using sand. This research objective was to determine the effect of stocking density on bird performance for the two litter materials. Two trials were conducted using 16 pens with half having wood shavings at a depth of 10.2 cm (4") and half with a 10.2 cm depth of washed mortar sand. Male broilers were stocked in the 5.42 m2 (58.3ft2) pens at 604 and 883 cm2/bird (0.65 and 0.95 ft2/bird). Other sand litter research has shown that body weights are higher for broilers reared on sand and that there are no other significant influences on broiler performance. Body weight gains in these trials were also greater for birds on sand. Livabilities were consistently best on the shavings at the lowest stocking density. Feed conversion for the 42 to 49 d period was significantly greater for the birds on wood shavings.