Effect of stocking density on performance, infection by Eimeria spp., intestinal lesions and foot pad injuries in broilers with outdoor access under tropical conditions

This study’s objective was to evaluate the effects of distance and stocking density on physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of meat and acute-phase proteins in Brahman crossbred cattle transported by road under hot and humid tropical conditions. Sixty Brahman crossbred heifers were subjected to road transport from a cattle feedlot farm located in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, to a commercial ruminant abattoir in Shah Alam, Selangor. Animals were assigned to long and short distances and high, medium, and low stocking densities. The results revealed that the intensity of response significantly increased in meat samples from animals subjected to long-distance transportation and higher stocking density. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid-A values increased considerably and were different from the baseline values recorded at preload. In conclusion, the current results revealed that the color, pH, shear force values, water holding capacity (WHC), glycogen level, and malondilaldehyde assay (MDA) concentrations in meat and acute-phase proteins (APP) were affected by both distances and stocking densities, as evidenced by the significant changes recorded from the parameters above.

Download Full-text

Effects of Using Hazelnut Husk, Wood Shaving and of the Mixture at Different Thicknesses on Broiler Performances, Some Organ Weights, Foot-Pad Dermatitis and Litter Traits

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v8i6.1399-1404.3536 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 1399-1404

Author(s):

Musa Sarıca ◽

Kadir Erensoy

Keyword(s):

Stocking Density ◽

Litter Type ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Wood Shavings ◽

Broiler Production ◽

Litter Traits ◽

Hazelnut Husk ◽

Wood Shaving ◽

Foot Pad ◽

The Cost

This study was carried out to determine the effects of the use of hazelnut husk (HH), wood shavings (WS) and the mixture of 50% hazelnut husk + 50% wood shavings (MIX) in two different thicknesses (4 and 8 cm) as a litter material in broiler production. The experiment was carried out as a factorial experimental design (3 litter type and 2 thickness) and stocking density was 10 chickens per m2. At 6 wk. of age, the effect of litter types and thicknesses on broiler live weights, feed efficiency, and livability, were not significant. Also, no differences were found in terms of gizzard, digestive tract, abdominal fat and edible internal organ weight percentages. While carcass yield varied between litter groups, there was no difference between litter thicknesses. The litter moisture levels at the end of the trial were not affected the litter type and litter thickness, while the foot pad dermatitis (FPD) rates were significantly affected. The highest FPD levels were determined in the HH litter and 4 cm thickness. As a result, the use of HH, WS and MIX of them with a thickness of 4 and 8 cm had no effect on other traits except for FPD levels. It has been observed that these litter materials may be used successfully in broiler production and use of 8 cm thickness litter has minor positive effects except that the cost of litter has doubled.

Download Full-text

Ammonia emissions from a naturally and a mechanically ventilated broiler house in Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental ◽

10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v18n11p1179-1185 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 1179-1185 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Luciano B. Mendes ◽

Ilda F. F. Tinoco ◽

Nico W. M. Ogink ◽

Keller S. O. Rocha ◽

Jairo A. Osorio S. ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ventilation System ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Emission Factors ◽

Ammonia Emission ◽

Mechanically Ventilated ◽

Nh3 Emission ◽

Modeling Process ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Ventilation Rates ◽

Broiler House

This study was conducted with the aim of monitoring NH3 emissions from a mechanically and a naturally ventilated broiler house (MVB and NVB, respectively) and calculate their ammonia emission factors (fNH3). Bird stocking density was 13.5 and 11.1 birds m-2 for the MVB and NVB, respectively. The marketing age was 43 days and bedding consisted of dried coffee husks in its first time of use. Ventilation rates were calculated with the metabolic carbon dioxide mass balance method. Values of fNH3 were 0.32 ± 0.10 and 0.27 ± 0.07 g bird-1 d-1 for the MVB and NVB, respectively, and are in agreement to what was presented in other studies performed under similar conditions. The fNH3 estimated on yearly basis was 58 g bird-place-1 year-1. It was concluded that the different types of ventilation system between the studied broiler barns did not significantly affect emissions in the modeling process. The results obtained help providing reliable methodology for the determination of a solid database on NH3 emission factors for tropical conditions that can be used for future inventories, when performed in a sufficient number of barns that is representative for the Brazilian scenario.

Download Full-text

Nutrition and Poultry Coccidiosis: Causes, Consequences and Current Strategies to Modulate the Disease

10.5772/intechopen.96995 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luis-Miguel Gómez-Osorio ◽

Jenny-Jovana Chaparro-Gutiérrez ◽

Sara López-Osorio

Keyword(s):

Compensatory Growth ◽

Eimeria Species ◽

Economic Importance ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Protection Factor ◽

Intestinal Lesions ◽

Eimeria Spp ◽

Key Players ◽

Nutritional Strategies ◽

Poultry Coccidiosis

Eimeria spp. are parasites specialized in invade and replicate in the intestine, causing coccidiosis, an enteric disease of major economic importance worldwide. The disease causes losses in production and high morbidity ranging from bloody enteritis, with high mortality, to being subclinical silent but affecting feed intake and efficiency. However, intestinal lesions of the infection vary, depending on the species of coccidia. The most important Eimeria species in poultry are: E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. mitis, E. praecox and E. brunetti. All those species affect different anatomic sites of the intestine. Thus, they alter the homeostasis of the host reducing nutrient absorption and utilization. Nutritional factors are key players in several steps of the coccidiosis disease. Firstly, as a susceptibility or protection factor, secondly, during the process of infection and pathogenesis, and thirdly, in the recovery and compensatory growth of the bird. Otherwise, coccidiosis also triggers immune response in the intestine. To counter these complicated effects, there are nutritional strategies (including formulation of key amino acids, vitamins, short and medium chain fatty acids, prebiotics, enzymes, among others) that can be utilized to reduce the infection, alleviate the signs, and boost the compensatory growth after infection. This chapter review the impacts of coccidiosis in nutrition and discuss about of strategies to mitigate these risks.

Download Full-text

The effect of sodium bisulfate and coccidiostat on intestinal lesions and growth performance of Eimeria spp.–challenged broilers

Poultry Science ◽

10.1016/j.psj.2020.06.060 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 99 (10) ◽

pp. 4769-4775

Author(s):

Mariam Talghari ◽

Alireza Behnamifar ◽

Shaban Rahimi ◽

Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi ◽

Robert Beckstead ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Lesions ◽

Sodium Bisulfate ◽

Eimeria Spp

Download Full-text

The effect of stocking density on certain broiler welfare parameters

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah0902011s ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 25 (1-2) ◽

pp. 11-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Zdenka Skrbic ◽

Z. Pavlovski ◽

M. Lukic ◽

L. Peric ◽

N. Milosevic

Keyword(s):

Stocking Density ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Cholesterol Concentration ◽

Walking Ability ◽

Total Cholesterol Concentration ◽

Stress Indicators ◽

Broiler Production ◽

Gait Score ◽

Foot Pad

In broiler production, stocking density, i.e. floor surface per chicken, is very important welfare factor which directly and indirectly influences and determines the level of growth of chicken body weight, but it is also related to other welfare indicators. Objective of the paper was to define the broiler welfare in different stocking densities by evaluation of their walking ability (gait score), feathering, incidence and degree of hock burns, foot pad lesions, and by determination of the biochemical blood parameters (glucose concentration, total cholesterol concentration), as indicators of condition of stress. One day old chickens of Hubbard genotype were housed in boxes in floor rearing system, in 3 stocking densities and 5 repetitions of each treatment. Treatment A scored stocking density of 10 birds/m2; treatment B, 13 birds/m2 and treatment C, 16 birds/m2. Results of the trial indicate absence of significance of differences between trial groups of broilers in regard to their walking ability, condition of skin and legs, and stress indicators. In general, broiler welfare in all trial groups was satisfactory. However, determined tendencies of worsening of the condition of litter, increase of the frequency of lower scores for walking ability (gait score), hock burns and foot pad lesions which occur with increase of stocking density, indicate the importance of this rearing factor and need to define limiting stocking densities from the aspect of broiler welfare but also economical efficiency of production. .

Download Full-text

Effects of light intensity in different stocking densities on tibial measurements and incidence of lesions in broilers

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah1903243s ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 243-252

Author(s):

Zdenka Skrbic ◽

Milos Lukic ◽

Veselin Petricevic ◽

Snezana Bogosavljevic-Boskovic ◽

Simeon Rakonjac ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Light Intensity ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Production Management ◽

Stocking Density ◽

High Light Intensity ◽

High Light ◽

Average Score ◽

The Individual ◽

Foot Pad ◽

High Level

The possibility for use of high light intensity in broiler production management to improve the health of broilers? legs was examined in a study aiming to determine the effect of two levels of light intensity in different stocking densities of broiler chickens. The study was carried out on 1200 Ross 308 broilers according to a random block system with 6 treatments (2 x 3 factorial design) and 4 replicates per treatment. The examined light intensity levels of 150 lx (high light intensity-HLI) and 20 lx (low light intensity-LLI) were applied to 3 stocking densities of broilers: 10, 13 and 15 birds/m2. Scoring of foot pad (FP) and hock burns (HB) was carried out on the 42nd day, on a sample of 240 broilers. Osteometric and biomechanical measurements on tibia were performed after slaughtering and primary processing, on a sample of 72 broilers. The high level intensity of light exerted no significant effect on the development and firmness of the tibia of broilers grown in the densities of 10, 13 and 15 birds/m2. There are indications that in the highest studied stocking density the increased light intensity can improve the individual properties of tibia. The differences in the average assessment of hock burns were concluded to be the result of the stocking density that was observed only in conditions of the increased intensity of light. The average score of foot pad lesions was under the significant main effect of both investigated factors. The differences in the average FP estimation between the light intensity treatments were confirmed in the stocking density of 13 birds/m2.

Download Full-text

Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10081253 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1253 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stéphane Bergeron ◽

Emmanuelle Pouliot ◽

Maurice Doyon

Keyword(s):

Performance Indicators ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Daily Weight Gain ◽

Lower Grade ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Commercial Poultry ◽

The Difference ◽

And Performance ◽

Foot Pad ◽

Linear Regressions

This study examines poultry production stocking density (SD) effect on bird welfare and economic performance. It is based on a large dataset from commercial production including observations for 2.2 million male broilers and 2.3 million female broilers from 37 production sites, with SD ranging from 20.63 kg/m2 to 41.15 kg/m2. The data collection was originally motivated by a processor’s economic concerns that increasing SD could cause slower broiler growth, higher condemnations, and lower grade meat. The data was examined using several linear regressions to determine how production parameters impacted these performance indicators. Results regarding foot pad lesion, condemnations, and mortality rates are consistent with those found in the literature. However, we find that daily weight gain is positively associated with SD, contrasting with past experimental results. The difference between the scope of commercial and experimental productions is discussed as a possible reason for these conflicting results.

Download Full-text

Rearing, bird type and pre-slaughter transport conditions of broilers II. Effect on foot-pad dermatitis and carcass quality

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2018162-12015 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0504 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Morris Villarroel ◽

Ivan Francisco ◽

Miguel A. Ibáñez ◽

Martin Novoa ◽

Paula Martínez-Guijarro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conversion Rate ◽

Ventilation System ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Carcass Quality ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Transport Distance ◽

Wood Shavings ◽

Maximum Temperatures ◽

Foot Pad ◽

Feed Conversion Rate

A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of carcass quality defects over one year in a commercial database that included 1,856 flocks of Ross broilers (9,188 shipments, 1,975,420 carcasses inspected). The incidence of foot-pad dermatitis (FPD), scratches and wing and back haematomas was scored and analysed in terms of the effects of transport distance, arrival time to the slaughterhouse, waiting time at the slaughterhouse, maximum outside temperature on the day of transport, feed conversion rate, stocking density, bird type (yellow-skinned females or males, white-skinned females or males and roaster females), thinning (birds transported after thinning, birds remaining after thinning, and non-thinned flocks), bed litter type (rice hulls, chopped straw or wood shavings), and ventilation system (dynamic, static or tunnel). The incidence of FPD was significantly (p<0.001) lower at higher maximum temperatures and higher in flocks with a higher feed conversion rate. FPD also increased with stocking density (kg/m2) and was, on average, 5.0% higher in males than females. Regarding thinning, FPD was 13% lower in birds transported after thinning. Birds raised on chopped straw had more FPD (49.3%), followed by wood shavings (31.1%). Scratches were higher at higher temperatures and increased with transport distance. Birds transported after thinning had 5.8% more scratches than non-thinned birds, while increased stocking density (kg/m2) on the farm tended to increase scratches. Back haematomas were 32.6% higher in birds that were thinned, while wing haematomas increased with stocking density (kg/m2). Back haematomas were also 23.7% higher in males and more common in white-skinned birds.

Download Full-text

The Productivity and Financial Impacts of Eight Types of Environmental Enrichment for Broiler Chickens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10030378 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 378

Author(s):

Philip J. Jones ◽

Fernanda M. Tahamtani ◽

Ida J. Pedersen ◽

Jarkko K. Niemi ◽

Anja B. Riber

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Control Group ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Intervention Costs ◽

Foot Pad ◽

Financial Impacts ◽

The Impact

Reduced mobility in broilers can contribute to leg health problems. Environmental enrichment has been suggested as one approach to combat this through stimulating increased physical activity. Past studies have tested the effect of environmental enrichments on bird behaviour, health and welfare, but few have estimated their financial impacts. This study tested the impact of eight types of environmental enrichment on enterprise net margin, accounting for direct intervention costs plus indirect effects via changes to bird mortality, weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and foot pad dermatitis. The trial used 58 pens each containing approximately 500 broilers (Ross 308) at a stocking density of 40 kg/m2. The environmental enrichments were: roughage, vertical panels, straw bales, elevated platforms (5 and 30 cm), increased distances between feed and water (7 and 3.5 m) and stocking density reduced to 34 kg/m2, plus a control group. Mortality was recorded daily and feed intake and weight weekly. Footpad dermatitis was assessed on day 35. Only one intervention improved financial performance (3.5 m between feed and water) above the control, suggesting that most environmental enrichment would have a negative financial impact due to the additional intervention costs, unless consumers were willing to pay a price premium.

Download Full-text