Selecting appropriate bedding to reduce locomotion problems in broilers

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out at the Poultry Sector of the School of Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of Grande Dourados to evaluate the incidence of leg problems in broilers reared on two distinct types of bedding material: rice husks or wood shavings, both new and reused. In both trials, a randomized experimental design was applied in factorial arrangement (2 x 2 x 2) using two genetic strains (Cobb ® or Ross ® ); two sexes (male or female), and two litter materials (rice husks or wood shavings). In each trial 1080 one day pullets were reared equally divided in the treatments. The birds were placed in 4.5 m 2 boxes at a density of 10 birds m -2 . All birds were fed diets with equal nutritional density, and water was offered ad libitum. Feeds were divided in three phases: starter diet (1 -21 days), grower diet (22 -35 days), and finisher diet (36 -45 days). On day 45, fifty birds were randomly selected in each experiment to evaluate flock leg problems. The following parameters were analyzed: gait score, incidence of valgus and varus disorder, footpad dermatitis, femoral degeneration, tibial dyschondroplasia, and spondylolisthesis. Ambient temperature during rearing and litter caking and moisture content were recorded in four boxes per treatment. The analytical hierarchy process was used to organize the data into specific criteria. Several criteria, related to the attributes that were determinant according to the statistical analysis, were chosen in order to provide the best input to the process. Results indicated that new wood-shavings bedding was the most appropriate bedding to prevent locomotion problems, followed by new rice husks, reused wood shavings, and reused rice husks. However, when leg problems were associated to sex and genetic strain, male Ross birds strain presented less problems when reared on new rice husks, followed by new wood shavings

Feeding behavior and crop damage caused by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in an agricultural landscape

“…Multi criteria analysis was used to estimate the capybara' crop preference and the period of it feeding activity. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a multi criteria analysis which is characterized by the possibility of estimating a solution to a problem using a matrix (A) of criterion hierarchy (Saaty, 1980;Almeida Paz et al, 2010;Garcia et al, 2011).…”

“…As the hierarchy is established weight is given to each criterion, and they are pairwise compared (Garcia et al, 2011). The first approach requires that decision makers to reach a consensus on each entry a ij in matrix A, where k ij denotes the parity of element i to element j for the decision maker k (k = 1, 2, ..., n) compared to peers of the matrix A (Bolloju, 2001;Almeida Paz et al, 2010). The elements selected are arranged in descending hierarchy, and the goal is set at the top followed by the criteria levels, combining different types of selection criteria in a multilevel structure, in order to achieve a score for each alternative in order to classify them as the matrix is solved.…”

Pasta de higuerilla desintoxicada en dietas para pollos de engorda

“…Los pollos de engorda con mayor peso permanecen postrados más tiempo. En consecuencia, la condición de equilibrio y la angulación de estas aves se ven afectadas, lo que provoca incomodidad al caminar y deterioro en su bienestar (28) .…”

Glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C in ovo feeding affects bone characteristics of chicks

“…Upon reaching rapid body growth, efficient feed utilization, and maximum breast meat deposition, broilers begin to show disorders in their bone structure, with increased occurrence of angular and torsional deformities, tibial dyschondroplasia, rickets, osteochondrosis, and femoral necrosis (Almeida Paz et al, 2010). Bone deformities and fractures are severe health problems in modern, rapidly growing broilers, because genetic breeding programs aimed at superior performance have not included improvements in bone development (Almeida Paz et al, 2010).…”