PT

Abstract

Aviary litter is used to absorb moisture and become a barrier to the bird's direct contact with the ground in intensive rearing systems. In this way, it contributes to the welfare and better productive performance of birds by reducing sudden temperature changes in the sheds. The objective of this work was to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of four types of litter material under two housing densities and the performance of broilers housed in different treatments over a period of 42 days. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme (four types of litter material and two stocking rates) and five replications. The four types of litter material were washed sand, wood shavings, rice husk and Tifton 85 hay and the two stocking rates were 10 and 14 birds/m². The performance parameters of the evaluated animals were: weight gain, consumption, feed conversion, live weight and viability, while the analyzed characteristics of the litter were: pH, temperature and humidity. The used poultry litter materials did not negatively affect the performance of the birds, however the birds housed at a density of 10 birds/m² had better performance. There was no difference between the pH and temperature values of the different treatments, however the humidity of the sand bed at a density of 10 birds/m² was significantly higher than that of the other materials. Therefore, the avian litter materials used in this study had similar physicochemical characteristics, with washed sand having greater water absorption power, but even so, it did not negatively affect the performance of the birds. Poultry housed at a density of 10 birds/m2 showed better performance.