The potential of pumice as a litter material and its influence on growth performance, carcass parameters, litter quality traits, behavior, and welfare in broiler chickens.

This study evaluated the possibilities of pumice (light stones) as litter material in broiler production. Experimental treatments included wood shavings (WS), acidic pumice (AP), and basic pumice (BP) alone, and in combination; wood shaving + acidic pumice (WSAP) and wood shaving + basic pumice (WSBP) in a ratio of 1:1. Two trials were performed, one in summer, and the other in winter. Each trial involved 750 mixed-sex Ross (308) broilers. Also, there were 15 replicate pens with 50 broilers and a stocking density of 12.5 birds/m2 for each pen at the beginning of each trial. Performance, litter quality, carcass parameters, body and leg abnormalities, body temperature, fear and stress responses, proportional asymmetry, and some behavior expressions were investigated. The litter treatment influenced the final live body weight, litter moisture, ammonia concentration, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, breast blister, hot carcass yield, heart, liver, spleen, abdominal fat, wing and neck ratio, breast and back cleanliness, and the expression of dust bathing and foraging behaviors (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a seasonal effect on live body weight, feed conversion ratio, livability, litter pH, 42-day litter moisture, hot carcass yield, back cleanliness, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, footpad temperature, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and expression of pecking behavior (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). It is suggested that acidic pumice stone alone or in a mixture with wood shavings could be used as a reliable litter material, alternative to wood shavings.

Effect of different pasture species on growth performance, carcass traits, internal organ weights, and meat quality of slower growing broilers in free-range production system.

This study examined the effect of Medicago sativa (A), Trifolium repens (WC), Lolium perenne (PR), and their mixture (Mix) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, internal organ weights, and meat quality of slower-growing broiler chickens in a free-range production system. The animal materials comprised of mixed-sex Hubbard ISA Red JA, which were reared in the deep litter system for the first 3 weeks, and thereafter, the pop hole in each of the indoor pens was opened to allow birds access to the range containing one of the above pasture treatments. The range availability was ensured from 08:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The results indicated no significant difference in broiler live body weight, feed conversion ratio, and livability between 28 and 77 days among the pasture treatments (P > 0.05). No significant variations were observed in the carcass and internal organ weights among pasture types (P > 0.05). Additionally, while the dry matter content (P < 0.01), TBA value (P < 0.05), and fatty acid profiles differed (P < 0.01), the protein, ash, water holding capacity, and oxidation stability of broiler breast meat did not differ among pasture groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, while the values of breast meat lightness (L*) and brightness (b*) differed (P < 0.05), redness and pH did not differ between the sexes (P > 0.05). Furthermore, sex significantly affected ash, protein content (P < 0.05), and TBA value (P < 0.01) of breast meat but did not affect dry matter, water holding capacity, and peroxide value of breast meat. Also, there was a significant difference in the weight of the neck, breast, thigh, live weight, hot carcass yield, heart, liver, abdominal fat, and digestive system between sexes (P < 0.05). However, breast meat fat content and fatty acid profiles were not influenced by the sex of the broilers (P > 0.05). It was concluded that access to the studied pasture species has no effect on the growth performance traits but results in notable variations in the fatty acid profiles in broiler breast meat.

Effect of different pasture species on welfare and behavior of slow-growing broiler chickens in free-range production system.

This study investigated the effect of various pasture species on the welfare and behavior of slow-growing broiler chickens in the free-range production system. After 21 days completely indoors, the birds were permitted access to outdoor pens cultivated with one of the following pasture treatments: Medicago sativa (A), Trifolium repens (WC), Lolium perenne (PR), and a mixture (Mix, A + WC + PR). The range availability was restricted between 08:30 and 16:30 daily. It was found that pasture type had a significant effect on the fluctuating asymmetry of the face and radius length (P < 0.01). Duration of tonic immobility and blood parameters did not differ among the pasture species and between sexes at 11 weeks of broiler age (P > 0.05). Pasture treatment had no significant effect on broiler behaviors (P > 0.05). However, the age of broilers had a significant effect on pecking, dustbathing, and scratching (P < 0.01). Pecking behavior was affected by the time of the day; morning and afternoon (P < 0.01). Location had a significant effect on pecking and stretching behaviors (P < 0.01). In the study, dustbathing behavior was significantly affected by the interaction between location and age (P < 0.01), age and time of the day (P < 0.01), and location, age, and time of the day (P < 0.05). Scratching behavior was significantly affected by the interaction between location and time of the day (P < 0.05) and location, age and time of the day (P < 0.01). Stretching behavior was significantly affected by the interaction between location and age (P < 0.05) and location, age and time of the day (P < 0.05). It was concluded that access to the studied pasture species does not affect the evaluated welfare traits and observed behaviors. Therefore, it is suggested that other pasture species should be investigated to identify their effect on slow-growing strains in the free-range production system.