Effect of different bedding materials on growth performance, physiological response and economic efficiency in three commercial broiler strains
2019
Irfan, M. | Mehmood, S. | Mahmud, A. | Hussain, J. | Saima, | Shaheen, M.S. | S. Ahmad Hussein, | Zia, M.W.
The experiment was conducted at Ravi Campus of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan to assess the effect of wood-shaving, wheat-straw, corn-cob pulp and rice-husk (bedding materials) on the performance of three commercial strains of broiler viz, Ross-308, Cobb-500 and Arbor Acres. Three-hundred-sixty day-old chicks, 120/strain were distributed into 36 replicates (10 birds/replicate) according to 4×3 factorial arrangements. Weekly weight gain, FCR, livability and rearing cost was recorded. Birds raised on corn cob pulp exhibited enhanced (P≤0.05) body weight, FCR, lesser rearing cost and superior (P≤0.05) livability. Among strains, Ross-308 and Cobb-500 showed improved performance compared to Arbor Acres. Serum glucose and immune response were not affected by bedding material or strain; serum cholesterol was higher at rice husk; abdominal fat pad and foot pad dermatitis were higher at corn cob pulp and wood shaving. It was concluded that corn cob pulp proved to be a better bedding material, especially in Ross-308 and Cobb-500.
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