Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the physical characteristics of three litter materials, namely pine shavings (PS),
bio-secure, fumigated pine shavings (BS) and sunflower hulls (SH) and its influence on broiler performance over a
33-day production cycle. The experiment was conducted in commercial poultry houses holding 42,500 chicks each,
utilising a randomised block design with six house replicates per treatment. Litter samples were collected weekly
for analyses of moisture, water-holding capacity, bulk density, pH and litter caking. Broiler footpad dermatitis was
monitored at 21 and 31 days, together with acid detergent fibre (ADF) concentration of gizzard content, gizzard weight
and small intestinal weight and length of 120 birds per treatment. Broilers across treatments consumed litter material
which was evident in increased ADF levels of gizzard contents relative to feed. The SH contained more nutrients
based on proximate analysis as compared to other treatments. Rearing on SH led to lower 7-day cumulative mortality,
higher kilograms of broilers produced per square meter, average daily gain and slaughter weight. Improvements seen
with SH did not alter commercial indicators, namely, production e ciency factor and feed conversion ratio. Litter
converged toward similar physical characteristics at the end of production cycles when few di erences were observed
between treatments due to addition of feed, feathers and excreta.
