<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Wood shavings is the most common material used as litter in commercial broiler production in many areas in Nigeria. It is, however, becoming scarce and expensive. Therefore this study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of other bedding materials on organ weights, meat quality, footpad and breast dermatitis of Marshall broiler chickens under hot humid climate. One hundred and eighty broiler chicks of mixed sexes (Marshal strain) were randomly assigned to three treatments of wood shavings (WS), maize cobs (MC) and chopped <italic>Panicum maximum</italic> (PM) as bedding materials replicated four times with 15 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design. Feed and water were provided to birds <italic>ad libitum</italic> throughout the study. Data were collected on the relative body and organ weights, meat quality, breast and footpad dermatitis. The results showed that footpad and breast lesion of the birds were not significantly influenced (<italic>P</italic> > 0.05) by different litter materials. Similarly, most of the organ weights, including spleen and bursa of <italic>Fabricius</italic> were not influenced by litter materials. However, the relative weight of thigh of the birds reared on PM and MC were similar but higher (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) than those raised on WS. The intestinal weight of the birds raised on PM was significantly higher than those of the other treatment groups whose weights were similar. Birds reared on chopped PM had higher (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) relative weight of liver than those reared on MC. There was no significant (<italic>P</italic> > 0.05) effect of bedding materials on meat quality. It was concluded that chopped PM could serve as a replacement for WS as a bedding material for broiler chickens under hot humid climate.</p></abstract>

Wood shavings is the most common material used as litter in commercial broiler production in many areas in Nigeria. It is, however, becoming scarce and expensive. Therefore this study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of other bedding materials on organ weights, meat quality, footpad and breast dermatitis of Marshall broiler chickens under hot humid climate. One hundred and eighty broiler chicks of mixed sexes (Marshal strain) were randomly assigned to three treatments of wood shavings (WS), maize cobs (MC) and chopped Panicum maximum (PM) as bedding materials replicated four times with 15 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design. Feed and water were provided to birds ad libitum throughout the study. Data were collected on the relative body and organ weights, meat quality, breast and footpad dermatitis. The results showed that footpad and breast lesion of the birds were not significantly influenced (P > 0.05) by different litter materials. Similarly, most of the organ weights, including spleen and bursa of Fabricius were not influenced by litter materials. However, the relative weight of thigh of the birds reared on PM and MC were similar but higher (P < 0.05) than those raised on WS. The intestinal weight of the birds raised on PM was significantly higher than those of the other treatment groups whose weights were similar. Birds reared on chopped PM had higher (P < 0.05) relative weight of liver than those reared on MC. There was no significant (P > 0.05) effect of bedding materials on meat quality. It was concluded that chopped PM could serve as a replacement for WS as a bedding material for broiler chickens under hot humid climate.

Influence of bedding materials on organ weights, meat quality, breast and footpad dermatitis of broiler chickens under hot humid climate

Department of Animal Production and Health

Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Wood shavings is the most common material used as litter in commercial broiler production in many areas in Nigeria. It is, however, becoming scarce and expensive. Therefore this study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of other bedding materials on organ weights, meat quality, footpad and breast dermatitis of Marshall broiler chickens under hot humid climate. One hundred and eighty broiler chicks of mixed sexes (Marshal strain) were randomly assigned to three treatments of wood shavings (WS), maize cobs (MC) and chopped Panicum maximum (PM) as bedding materials replicated four times with 15 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design. Feed and water were provided to birds ad libitum throughout the study. Data were collected on the relative body and organ weights, meat quality, breast and footpad dermatitis. The results showed that footpad and breast lesion of the birds were not significantly influenced (P > 0.05) by different litter materials. Similarly, most of the organ weights, including spleen and bursa of Fabricius were not influenced by litter materials. However, the relative weight of thigh of the birds reared on PM and MC were similar but higher (P  0.05) effect of bedding materials on meat quality. It was concluded that chopped PM could serve as a replacement for WS as a bedding material for broiler chickens under hot humid climate.

Wood shavings is the most common material used as litter in commercial broiler production in many areas in Nigeria. It is, however, becoming scarce and...

Influence of bedding materials on organ weights, meat quality, breast and footpad dermatitis of broiler chickens under hot humid climate

Published Online: Aug 21, 2019

Page range: 3 - 8

Received: Nov 29, 2018

Accepted: May 31, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2019-0001

Keywords
Litter, growth, poultry, organs, lesions, carcass

© 2019 Oyegunle Emmanuel Oke et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Influence of bedding materials on organ weights, meat quality, breast and footpad dermatitis of broiler chickens under hot humid climate

Published Online: Aug 21, 2019

Page range: 3 - 8

Received: Nov 29, 2018

Accepted: May 31, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2019-0001

KeywordsLitter, growth, poultry, organs, lesions, carcass

© 2019 Oyegunle Emmanuel Oke et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Litter, growth, poultry, organs, lesions, carcass