Nutritional factors affecting excreta/litter moisture and quality

Abstract

The control of excretanitter moisture and quality is a priority in the modern poultry industry, to avoid environmental and animal welfare problems and to reduce productivity losses. Control implies the reduction of their amounts and moisture content. Several factors can affect them, some related to management and housing, others related to diseases and finally, dietary factors. The paper reviews some nutritional aspects that could interfere with the moisture and quality of poultry excretaflitter, focusing on dietary factors affecting water consumption, water excretion and the amount and composition of excreta: dietary protein level, electrolyte balance, ionophores, cereals causing viscosity problems or containing high levels of non-digestible fibre fractions, unusual ingredients or by-products and finally some feed technological treatments. Nutrition: excreta and litter moisture content: M. Francesch and J. BrufauSeveral factors can affect the excretaflitter moisture content; some of them are related to management and housing (amount and type of litter, temperature, ventilation, heating, drinking system, density), other factors are related to diseases caused by various infections (coccidiosis, Escherichiu coli, Campylobacter, spirochaetes), finally there are dietary factors which may affect water consumption and excretion. The excreta composition, which can affect their water retention capacity limiting the evaporative water losses, may also alter the litter characteristics.This paper reviews some nutritional aspects that could modify the moisture and quality of poultry excretaflitter, focusing on dietary factors affecting water consumption, water excretion and the amount and composition of excreta: dietary protein level, electrolyte balance, ionophores, ingredients causing viscosity problems or containing high levels of non-digestible fibre fractions, some unusual ingredients or by-products and finally some feed technological treatments.The author is grateful to Dr Jiri Broz for his critical comments on the manuscript. References ALLEMAN, F. and LECLERCQ, B. (1997) Effect of dietary protein and environmental temperature on growth performance and water consumption of male broiler chickens. Brirish Poultry Science 3 8 607-610. ALMIRALL, M., FRANCESCH, M., PfiREZ-VENDRELL, A.M., BRUFAU, J. and ESTEVE-GARCIA, E. (1995) The differences in intestinal viscosity produced by barley and P-glucanase alter digesta enzyme activities and ileal nutrient digestibilities more in broilers than in cocks. Journal ofNurrition 125 947-955. ALMIRALL, M., COS, R., ESTEVE-GARCIA, E. and BRUFAU, J. (1997) Effect of inclusion of sugar beet pulp, pelleting and season on laying hen performance. British Poultry Science 38: 530-536. ANNISON, G., MOUGHAN, PJ. and THOMAS, D.V. (1995) Nutritive activity of soluble rice bran arabinoxylans in broiler diets. Brirish Poulrry Science 36: 479-488. BACH KNUDSEN, K.E. (1997) Carbohydrate and lignin contents of plant materials used in animal feeding. A role for sodium bicarbonate supplements for growing ...

Response of broiler chickens reared at high density to dietary supplementation with licorice extract and probiotic

“…In the modern poultry industry, controlling excreta moisture and quality to avoid environmental and animal welfare problems is very important (Francesch & Brufau, 2004). Some studies showed that the excreta moisture, the amount of caked litter and consequently production of ammonia may increase when stocking density increases (Dozier et al, 2005;Sorensen, Su, & Kestin, 2000).…”

“…Some studies showed that the excreta moisture, the amount of caked litter and consequently production of ammonia may increase when stocking density increases (Dozier et al, 2005;Sorensen, Su, & Kestin, 2000). Wet litter promotes proliferation of pathogenic bacteria (Francesch & Brufau, 2004).…”

The effects of inclusion level and source of sodium in diets for growing turkeys. A review

“…FPD is often caused by a high litter moisture content associated with nutritional factors (Francesch and Brufau, 2004;Eichner et al, 2007;Mayne et al, 2007;Cengiz et al, 2012). Soyabean meal-based diets have relatively high α-galactoside concentration (above 2%), which increases the risk of FPD in turkeys .…”

“…It is an important risk factor for excess litter moisture and leg problems, common in intensively farmed chickens and turkeys (Francesch andBrufau, 2004: Venäläin-en et al, 2006).…”

Influence of particle size of the cereal of the diet on egg production, egg quality, and the development of the gastrointestinal tract of brown-egg laying hens

“…Barley and wheat contain variable amounts of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) which increase digesta viscosity and reduce nutrient absorption and performance in broilers (Edney et al, 1989;Wang et al, 2005;García et al, 2008) and laying hens (Lázaro et al, 2003;Mirzaie et al, 2012). In layers, a high NSP content of the diet is associated with an increase in dirty eggs (Francesch and Brufau, 2004).…”