Growth performance, carcass, and meat quality traits in broiler chickens reared on plastic-grid flooring, wood shavings, and zeolite-supplemented wood shavings.

This study aimed to assess the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality traits of broiler chickens raised on plastic-grid floors, traditional wood shavings, and wood shavings enriched with zeolite. The experimental design included the allocation of 504-day-old chicks to three different bedding materials, namely wood shavings, plastic-grid floors, and zeolite litter, each with four replications (42 birds per replicate). The chicks were individually weighed at birth and grouped according to their average body weights. An experiment involving 504 chicks was conducted, with each replicate consisting of 42 male chicks of similar body weight. At the end of the experiment, a total of 120 chickens were slaughtered with 10 chickens selected from each replicate for processing carcass and meat quality traits. The effects of different bedding materials on mortality (P = 0.812), body weight (P = 0.565), and body weight gain (P = 0.569) were not significant. The ANOVA test was conducted to compare the main effects of performance, carcass, and meat quality characteristics. The feed intake was significantly affected in the 2nd, and 3rd weeks (P = 0.001; 0.023); in addition, the feed conversion ratio was significant in the 2nd, 4th, and overall period (P = 0.003; P = 0.026; P = 0.038) by the bedding materials. The breast yield (P = 0.001), thigh yield (P = 0.028), and wing yield (P = 0.023) were significant. The type of bedding material used in broiler production significantly influenced the pH24 (P = 0.030), L* (P = 0.037), a* (P = 0.000), and CL (P = 0.028). It was concluded that both a plastic-grid floor and zeolite supplementation to wood shaving litter did not significantly affect overall growth performance in broiler chickens. However, the plastic-grid floor showed superior effects on breast meat yield and quality characteristics, particularly reducing cooking loss, when compared to zeolite supplementation in wood shaving litter. The plastic-grid floor led to a slight increase in the feed conversion ratio. Consequently, adopting a plastic grid floor emerges as a viable alternative to traditional wood shavings in broiler farming.

Two-stage sequencing batch reactors with added iron shavings for nutrient removal and aerobic sludge granulation treating real wastewater with low carbon to nitrogen ratios.

In response to the challenges of limited nutrient removal and the difficulty in forming aerobic granular sludge (AGS) with low carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios, a novel two-stage sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) (R1 and R2) system with added iron shavings was proposed and established. The results showed that AGS was developed and nitrogen (82.8 %) and phosphorus (94.7 %) were effectively removed under a C/N ratio at 1.7 ± 0.5. The average size of R1 and R2 increased from 45.3 µm to 138.7 µm and 132.8 µm. Under high biological selective pressure, phosphorus accumulating organisms like Comamonadaceae (14.8 %) and Chitinophagales (5.7 %) experienced enrichment in R1. Furthermore, R2 exhibited an increased abundance of nitrifying bacteria (2.3 %) and a higher proportion of nitrogen removal through autotrophic denitrification (＞17.5 %). Overall, this study introduces an innovative two-stage SBRs with added iron shavings, offering a novel approach for the treatment of low C/N ratios wastewater.

Hydrothermal carbonization of vegetable-tanned leather shavings (HTC-VTS) for environmental remediation: optimization of process conditions.

Herein, the response surface methodology (RSM) has been used to study simultaneously the effects of carbonization temperature, residence time and moisture content on the activated hydrochar preparation-based vegetable-tanned leather shavings (VTS) using hydrothermal carbonization method (HTC). Owing to the desirability chosen, three responses were analysed, namely: the hydrochar yield, iodine and methylene blue numbers. The analysis of experimental results revealed that the hydrochar yield was decreased with increase in carbonization temperature which led to micropores formation inside the hydrochar network. The optimal preparation conditions retained were: 83.10%, 390.44 mg g-1 and 259.63 mg g-1 for the hydrochar yield, iodine and methylene blue number respectively. The hydrochar micrograph showed the presence of external pores, whereas the FTIR analysis recorded the presence of acidic functional groups found on hydrochar surface. The findings revealed that the VTS is a good precursor for the hydrochar preparation useful in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants in aqueous media.

Enhancement of Polyacrylate Antiscalant Activity during Gypsum Deposit Formation with the Pretreatment of Aqueous Solutions with Spruce Wood Shavings.

Considerable efforts are made worldwide to reduce inorganic scale in reverse osmosis plants, boilers and heat exchangers, evaporators, industrial water systems, geothermal power plants and oilfield applications. These include the development of new environmentally friendly antiscalants and the improvement of conventional ones. The present report is dedicated to the unconventional application of spruce wood shavings in combination with polyacrylate (PAA-F1) in a model case of gypsum scale formation. The electrical conductivity of freshly prepared gypsum solutions with a saturation SI = 2.3 and a concentration of 0.05 mol·dm-3 was analyzed over time at 25°C. It is demonstrated that the small amounts of wood shavings (0.1% by mass) alone, after being in contact with CaCl2 and Na2SO4 stock solutions for 15 min, increase the induction time tind by 25 min relative to the blank experiment (tindblank). In the presence of PAA-F1 (0.1 mg·dm-3), the difference Δtind = tind - tindblank constitutes 110 min, whereas the sequential treatment of the stock solutions with the shavings followed by PAA-F1 injection gives Δtind = 205 min. The observed synergism is associated with the selective removal of colloidal Fe(OH)3solid and Al(OH)3solid nanoimpurities from the stock solutions via their sorption to the well-developed surface of wood. Wood shavings therefore represent a very promising and environmentally friendly material that can significantly improve the effectiveness of conventional antiscalants.

Filtration columns containing waste iron shavings, loofah, and plastic shavings for further removal of nitrate and phosphate from wastewater effluent.

A novel pilot-scale advanced treatment system combining waste products as fillers is proposed and established to enhance the removal of nitrate (NO3--N) and phosphate (PO43--P) from secondary treated effluent. The system consists of four modular filter columns, one containing iron shavings (R1), two containing loofahs (R2 and R3), and one containing plastic shavings (R4). The monthly average concentration of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) decreased from 8.87 to 2.52 mg/L and 0.607 to 0.299 mg/L, respectively. Micro-electrolysis of iron shavings produces Fe2+ and Fe3+ to remove PO43--P, while oxygen (O2) consumption creates anoxic conditions for subsequent denitrification. Gallionellaceae, iron-autotrophic Microorganisms, enriched the surface of iron shavings. The loofah served as a carbon source to remove NO3--N, and its porous mesh structure facilitated the attachment of biofilm. The plastic shavings intercepted suspended solids and degraded excess carbon sources. This system can be scaled up and installed at wastewater plants to improve the water quality of effluent cost-effectively.

Tannery waste as a renewable source of nitrogen for production of multicomponent fertilizers with biostimulating properties.

The studies presented in this work show that solid tannery waste-like shavings can be used as high-protein materials for fertilizer production following the concept of the circular economy. To select appropriate process parameters (mass ratio of shavings meal to the hydrolyzing agent (S:L), hydrolysis medium concentration, temperature) and to ensure the highest possible hydrolysis efficiency, it is useful to apply the well-known response surface methodology (RSM). The analyses revealed that chromium shavings (SCr) were most preferably treated with 10% KOH in a ratio of S:L 1:1 with the process being carried out at 160 °C (6.59% N). The optimal hydrolysis conditions for non-chromium (S) shavings were: S:L ratio 1:2, 10% H2SO4, and temperature 160 °C (4.08% N). Chromium concentrations in hydrolysates from S and SCr shavings obtained under optimal conditions were 15.2 mg/kg and 9483 mg/kg, respectively. Hydrolysate samples were analyzed by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) that revealed that the type of hydrolysis (acidic/alkaline) affects the amino acid profile. Approximately 4.5 times more amino acids were extracted in the KOH environment than during acidic treatment. The hydrolysates contained mainly glycine, alanine, and proline, which are primarily responsible for stimulating plant growth by supporting chlorophyll synthesis, chelating micronutrients, improving pollen fertility, or resistance to low temperatures. The conversion of tannery waste into fertilizer requires the control of contaminant levels, especially chromium, which can oxidize to the carcinogenic form Cr(VI) that is hazardous to humans and the environment.

Effects of the chromium content on anaerobic fermentation of chrome shaving collagen and rice straw juice.

This thesis investigated the effects of different chromium contents on the gas production characteristics of anaerobic fermentation by mixing the collagen solution obtained from the hydrolysis of chromium tannin chips by alkali-enzyme combination with rice stalk hydrolysate and the changes of system pH, VFA concentration, SCOD concentration, ammonia nitrogen concentration, and chromium concentration during anaerobic fermentation. The experimental results show that the highest total gas production and cumulative methane production are 1531.0 mL/gVS and 761.2 mL/gVS, respectively, with a Cr content of 5 mg/L, and the methane content reaches 49.7%. The best SCOD removal rate is 54.54% at a C/N ratio of 20:1. The increase in SCOD concentration is decreased with increasing chromium content, but there is no significant change in ammonia nitrogen concentration. The highest rate of SCOD degradation is achieved with a chromium content of 5 mg/L. The results of this thesis provide data support and theoretical guidance for the resource recovery of chromium leather shavings.

A Case of Adult Epiglottitis in a Patient With Uncontrolled Diabetes and Occupational Risks.

Epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottis with or without the involvement of supraglottic structures including the hypopharynx. Timely diagnosis is crucial as the treatment of epiglottitis is tailored to the degree of airway obstruction. Most patients improve with conservative measures, while some require an emergent airway intervention. We report a case of a 39-year-old Caucasian male with a history of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and smoking who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a sore throat, dry cough, odynophagia, and difficulty swallowing. He was afebrile, tachycardic, tachypneic, hypertensive, and saturating at 99% on room air. His physical examination was remarkable for drooling, muffled voice, pharyngeal swelling, and erythema. Laboratory tests were significant for leukocytosis, hyperglycemia, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 14.3% with a negative infectious workup. Lateral neck X-ray and emergent direct fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed findings of epiglottitis with airway patency. The patient did not require intubation and was started on intravenous dexamethasone, vancomycin, ampicillin-sulbactam, and humidified air with suctioning of secretions and quickly recovered. In addition to known risk factors for developing epiglottitis such as uncontrolled diabetes and smoking, our patient was exposed to metal shavings at his new job, an occupational hazard that might have contributed to his clinical presentation. Our case highlights the importance of a prompt diagnosis and risk factor identification in the management of epiglottitis in adults.

Production of dehairing protease by Bacillus cereus VITSN04: a model cradle-to-cradle approach for sustainable greener production of leathers.

Despite several attempts over decades, process scalability and sustainability remain a challenge to produce an environmental-friendly enzyme to gain industrial attention. In the present study, microbial degradation of chrome shavings (chromium-collagen leather waste) and the resulting collagen hydrolysate for producing the dehairing protease by Bacillus cereus VITSN04 were investigated in a lab-scale fermentor. Scale-up degradation of shavings resulted in higher recovery of collagen hydrolysate (76%) within 72 h compared to shake flasks (68% in 120 h). Earlier achieved medium composition of collagen hydrolysate (12 g L-1) and molasses (15 g L-1) appeared to induce amylase at the high rate, despite the maximal production of protease (203.8 ± 0.18 U mL-1), which was analysed by ANS fluorescence spectroscopy. Optimization of the media containing collagen hydrolysate (12 g L-1) and molasses (5 g L-1) was effective in producing protease (170.6 ± 0.1 U mL-1) and reduced the co-synthesis of amylase (48.2 ± 0.09 U mL-1). The controlled fermentation process by feeding molasses during the exponential growth phase had enhanced the dehairing protease production (∼2.96 fold). The produced protease then partitioned through the biphasic system and showed significant dehairing of goat skins on the pilot scale. Thus, the scalability of the process to produce dehairing enzymes using waste, generated at the site of its use, offers hope for sustainable greener production of leathers.

Effect of amount of high-fibre pellet in the diet and bedding type on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, eating behaviour and rumination in bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus).

Two studies were conducted to determine the impact of the amount of high-fibre pellet (HFP) in the diet and bedding material on feed intake, eating behaviour, rumination, activity and resting behaviour, and also nutrient digestibility in bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus). In Study 1, bongo were fed meadow hay (ad libitum), lucerne hay (0.5 kg/day), browse (0.7 kg/day) and a 'basal diet' containing 0.75 kg/day (low; LP), 1.50 kg/day (medium; MP) or 2.25 kg/day (high; HP) of HFP consisting mostly of insoluble fibre sources (dehydrated grass, dehydrated lucerne, wheat bran). In Study 2, experimental diets resembled those used in Study 1 with the main difference being that bongo were fed 1 or 2 kg of HFP/day and pens were bedded with straw (SB) or wood shavings (WB) (2 × 2 factorial design). In Study 1, dry matter (DM) intake of meadow hay decreased linearly (p < 0.01) with an increasing amount of HFP in the diet but total DM intake increased (p < 0.01). Eating time of basal diet (min/day) increased linearly (p = 0.01), whereas eating time of meadow hay tended to (p = 0.06) decrease linearly with an increasing amount of HFP in the diet. In Study 2, total DM intake was greater for HP treatments compared to LP treatments (p < 0.01) but meadow hay DM intake did not differ between treatments. Straw was consumed by animals and its usage as a bedding material increased meadow hay DM intake and browse DM intake (p ≤ 0.02), and consequently total DM intake (p = 0.03), compared with wood shavings bedding. Feeding more HFP to bongo tended to (p = 0.07) decrease rumination time per day and increased rumination rate (g DM/min). In conclusion, an increased amount of HFP (>1.5-2 kg/day/animal) rich in insoluble fibre in the diet consisting mostly of meadow hay may decrease the intake of roughages by bongo and reduce rumination time. On the other hand, the usage of straw (instead of wood shavings) as bedding unexpectedly increased the intake of roughages by bongo.

Mechanical and Physical Properties of Particleboard Made from the Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) Dung and Wood Shaving.

Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) are the world's largest living land mammals. The elephant's digestive system can only absorb 40% of the nutrients in digested feed, and the remainder is excreted as dung. Elephant dung waste can be used as a particleboard material due to its high fiber content. The objectives of this study are: (i) to prepare elephant dung waste as raw material for particleboard, (ii) to improve elephant dung particleboard's physical and mechanical properties using wood shavings, and (iii) to study the influence of several parameters on the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard. The particleboard dimensions and density were set at 20 cm × 20 cm × 1 cm and 0.8 g/cm3, respectively. The mixture ratio of elephant dung and wood shavings was 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50 (% w/w). This mixture ratio of particles was sprayed with 7% isocyanate adhesive. The pressing at a pressure of 30 kg/cm2 for 5 min and 160 °C was used in this study. The physical and mechanical properties of particleboard were tested according to JIS A 5908 (2003) standard. The result shows that the addition of wood shaving improved the elephant dung particleboard's physical and mechanical properties. Except for moisture content and water absorption, the addition of wood shavings has a significant effect on elephant dung particleboard's physical and mechanical properties. The best ratio of elephant dung and wood-shaving for this research is 50/50 and has fulfilled the JIS A 5908-2003 standard, except for thickness swelling.

Assessment of Woodcrete Using Destructive and Non-Destructive Test Methods.

Utilizing solid wastes and industrial by-products as a partial replacement for raw materials has become an acceptable practice among researchers and scientists in the civil engineering field. Sawdust and wood shavings are not an exception; they are being used in concrete as a partial or total replacement for some of its constituents. The main goal of this research is to establish a relation between destructive and non-destructive testing for concrete containing wood shavings as a partial replacement of sand (woodcrete). With this type of material existing, thus the need to understand the behavior of such material becomes urgent and evokes the need to ease the process of the assessment and the evaluation of such materials and therefore provide more understanding of its behavior. In addition to the conventional concrete mix, five mixes of woodcrete were made by replacing fine aggregate by volume with wood shavings at different replacement levels varied from 5% to 50%. Cubic samples were tested at the age of 90 days using nondestructive tests (NDT), namely, rebound hammer test and ultrasonic pulse velocity test. Then, the specimens were tested using a conventional compressive test using a universal compression testing machine. Statistical analysis was performed to establish empirical relations between destructive and non-destructive results. The dynamic modulus of elasticity was calculated, and some formulas to estimate the (compressive) strength of woodcrete using NDT results were proposed and tested against experimental results and showed acceptable results.

Residual concentrations of antimicrobial growth promoters in poultry litter favour plasmid conjugation among Escherichia coli.

Considering that plasmid conjugation is a major driver for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, this study aimed to investigate the effects of residual concentrations of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry litter on the frequencies of IncFII-FIB plasmid conjugation among Escherichia coli organisms. A 2 × 5 factorial trial was performed in vitro, using two types of litter materials (sugarcane bagasse and wood shavings) and five treatments of litter: non-treated (CON), herbal alkaloid sanguinarine (SANG), AGPs monensin (MON), lincomycin (LCM) and virginiamycin (VIR). E. coli H2332 and E. coli J62 were used as donor and recipient strains, respectively. The presence of residues of monensin, lincomycin and virginiamycin increased the frequency of plasmid conjugation among E. coli in both types of litter materials. On the contrary, sanguinarine significantly reduced the frequency of conjugation among E. coli in sugarcane bagasse litter. The conjugation frequencies were significantly higher in wood shavings compared with sugarcane bagasse only in the presence of AGPs. Considering that the presence of AGPs in the litter can increase the conjugation of IncFII-FIB plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistance genes, the real impact of this phenomenon on the dissemination of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the poultry production chain must be investigated.

An eco-friendly wood adhesive based on waterborne polyurethane grafted with gelatin derived from chromium shavings waste.

An environmentally friendly wood adhesive developed from waterborne polyurethane (WPU) grafted gelatin (G) was investigated in this research. First, the G was extracted from chromium shavings waste, and then mixed with a prepolymer emulsion of WPU to synthesis the graft copolymer (WPUG) via a solvent-free emulsion copolymerization. The synthesized copolymer was characterized using the mechanical properties test, TGA, FT-IR, and other analysis technology. The results indicated that the WPUG had a good overall performance. Specifically, the contact angle reached 111.5°, the tensile strength reached 32.91 MPa, the temperature of the maximum weight loss was greater than 350 °C. The WPUG adhesive had excellent bonding power and mechanical properties; the dry bonding strength reached 4.21 MPa when the ratio between free amino groups of the G and isocyanate-groups of the WPU (the R value) was 1.5. This preparation of the graft copolymer not only satisfies the need of environment-friendly wood adhesives, but it also effectively improves the recyclability of chromium shavings waste.

Bamboo shavings derived O-acetylated xylan alleviates loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

BSH-1 is an O-acetylated xylan obtained from bamboo shavings. This study determined the protective effects of BSH-1 against loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation in mice. Mice received BSH-1 by gavage daily for 14 days. In constipated mice, BSH-1 significantly shortened the defecation time and raised the gastrointestinal (GI) transit rate, stool production, and cecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). BSH-1 regulated the serum levels of gut hormones and neurotransmitters. BSH-1 also significantly altered the cecal microbiota of the constipated mice by increasing the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Bacteroidales_S24-7) and decreasing potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Alloprevotella and Staphylococcus). Furthermore, colonic transcriptome analysis revealed that BSH-1 significantly reversed the expression changes of genes related to intestinal motility, water and ion transport, inflammation and cancer in constipated mice. Our findings indicated that BSH-1 effectively relieved Lop-induced constipation in mice and could be potentially used for constipation treatment.

Production and properties assessment of biochars from rapeseed and poplar waste biomass for environmental applications in Romania.

Biochar obtained by pyrolysis is receiving great research interest as it is perceived to be a renewable resource available for agronomic and environmental applications. Since biochar is a highly heterogeneous material with chemical composition that varies widely depending on feedstock and pyrolysis conditions, this study compares the characteristics of biochar produced by pyrolysis at six temperature levels ranging between 300 and 800 °C of two types of biomass, i.e. rapeseed straw (RS)-agriculture waste and poplar tree shavings (PP)-forest waste from furniture making. Twelve biochars were generated via pyrolysis under low oxygen conditions of the selected biomasses in an electrically heated batch reactor. To determine how pyrolysis temperature affects the properties of biochars and consequently their possible utilization, physical, chemical, thermal, porosity and EDX analysis were measured for all biochars and for the corresponding feedstocks. SEM images of the biochar revealed that an increase in temperature led to a higher number of pores for PP biochar compared to RS biochar, and that PP biochar pores tended to shrink with temperature. The elemental composition and the pH of biochars were also compared. Based on the experimental results a utilization matrix was designed as to offer indications concerning possible applications of RS and PP biochars in substitution to fossil derived products for soil remediation (e.g., agriculture fertilizers) and in environmental applications (e.g., removal of pollutants).

Production of Agglomerates, Composite Materials, and Seed Coatings from Tannery Waste as New Methods for Its Management.

This paper presents methods for managing waste produced by the leather industry, including tanning shavings derived from chrome tanning technologies and collagen preparations. Shavings were classified according to their shape (in accordance with Zingg's shape classification). The content of individual elements was determined, together with the content of volatile organic compounds. Two new products were developed as part of the completed works: agglomerates (methods of non-pressure granulation) and composite materials were produced on the basis of tanning shavings and mineral fillers. Young's modulus values classify these composite materials in the group of polymers and certain materials from the group of elastomers. A method for seed coating (on the example of legumes and rape) was also developed using a disc granulator, including collagen preparations in one of the layers as a solution for preventing the effects of droughts (biostimulant). The analyses of selected properties of the new products confirm the wide possible application of waste shavings and collagen preparations in a circular economy, especially in the construction, packaging, and agricultural sectors.

Oversized Planer Shavings for the Core Layer of Lightweight Particleboard.

Planer shavings (PS) are side-products generated during the processing of solid wood, typically used for heating, packaging, or insulation purposes. PS has been used for decades in particleboard manufacture, particularly in the core layer. The aim of this research is to investigate the use of PS with a length over 4 mm in low-density one-layer particleboard manufacturing with a thickness of 10 mm, as an option to reduce the raw material demand for wood-based panels. Correlations towards the mechanical properties of the particleboards, fabricated at a density of 475 kg/m3, could be drawn by analyzing the effects of different urea-formaldehyde adhesive contents (6%, 9%, and 12%). Two methods of adhesive application (pouring and spraying) and two types of blending of PS with adhesive (plowshare mixer and drum mixer) were investigated, with the aim that PS will have controlled resin application. The difference between the adhesive application methods was examined by analyzing the mechanical properties as an internal bond, modulus of rupture, and modulus of elasticity as well as indirectly by visualizing the adhesive distribution by adding a green pigment to the adhesive before application. PS demonstrated reduced bending properties in comparison with the EN 312 standard requirements of particleboards for internal use in dry conditions (type P2), due to the low density. The internal bond strength in the case of the particleboard without pigment application (up to 0.5 N/mm2) was higher compared to the P2 requirements (0.4 N/mm2), and significantly lower (0.15 N/mm2) in combination with the pigment (2.5% based on the board weight, compared to 0.1%, specific for such industry applications), but still superior to the values of the reference panel manufactured with wood particles.

Superheated steam as carrier gas and the sole heat source to enhance biomass torrefaction.

Superheated steam (SHS) has been used as a carrier gas for pressurized steam torrefaction, steam explosion or pyrolysis, but is barely used as a heat source. However, SHS is superior in thermal capacity and heat transfer coefficient resulting in even heating and fast heating rates. Therefore, this work applied SHS as the sole heat source for torrefaction at ambient pressure. A setup was specially designed and capable of heating wood shavings at a rate >120 °C•min-1. Solid products were analyzed in many aspects and demonstrated the enhanced organics conversion owing to SHS torrefaction. Torrefied biomass was comparable to slow pyrolysis char in fuel quality and superior to that of conventional torrefactions. Moreover, SHS torrefaction was super-timesaving. A coal-like product (HHV of 27.84 MJ•kg-1) was achieved in only 15 min at 350 °C. Overall, SHS torrefaction boosted biomass densification and gaveriseto greater production efficiency.

Characterization of different types of broiler bedding including dehydrated grass and their influence on production.

The objective is to evaluate different bedding materials, including dehydrated grass, on performance and carcass yield and verify the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of materials. The completely randomized experiment comprised 1,080 chicks in a 3 × 2 factorial design with three levels of dehydrated grass (0%, 25%, and 50%) and two bedding materials (rice husks and shavings). Total microorganism count and physicochemical characteristics, surface temperature of birds, and performance of birds were analyzed up to 42 days of age, when birds were slaughtered, and carcass yield was evaluated. The inclusion of grass showed a higher microbiological count after 1 day, stabilizing with materials after 28 days. The inclusion of 50% of dehydrated grass resulted in a higher surface bed temperature at 42 days. Inclusions above 25% of grass have a lower density and a greater water retention capacity, pH, moisture, and total nitrogen, in addition to a lower FDA in its structure. The highest ammonia emissions occurred with the inclusion of 25% of grass. The inclusion of dehydrated grass did not affect performance and carcass yield, favoring feed conversion at the initial stages. The inclusion of grass can replace up to 25% of shavings without harming physicochemical parameters of materials and birds' performance.