Broilers’ performance in deep litter house at different floor geometries and stocking densities in humid tropics

Abstract

The research investigated how broilers’ performances will be affected by the conditions of their droppings in deep litter housing system in humid tropics of south west Nigeria. Two factors were considered, floor geometry and stocking density. Four different levels of floor geometry: F₁ = 2800 cm², F₂ = 4200 cm², F₃ = 5600 cm² and F₄ = 7,000 cm² and four different levels of stocking density: S₁ = 4, S₂ = 6, S₃ = 8 and S₄ = 10 birds per pen were used. There were three replicates for each treatment to make a 2× 4 × 3 randomized complete block design. The birds were fed ad libitum with all other conditions been equal for eight weeks. Conditions of litter were evaluated via pH, weights, temperatures and relative humidity in and out of the building, temperatures of the litter, temperature of the air just above the litter and the temperatures outside the house, all these were measured for each of the pen at two days intervals. Data were collected and analysed for the period of eight weeks (starting from their two weeks old), using their mean values and the correlation coefficients. Results show the pH range of 8.5 to 8.9, liveweight of the birds increased in the range of 216 to 340 g per bird per week, moisture contents of the litter were between 20.4 and 78.0% with mean temperature of the litter at 30.5 ^oC. The emission of ammonia was high, between 51.67 and 71.30 ppm. There was mortality rate of 10% in the S₃ and S₄ pens, autopsy revealed their cause of death to respiratory diseases which was because of high ammonia emission resulted from high amount of litter. The high temperature of the litter produced increased the level of ammonia and thus produced discomfort in the birds. Birds were uncomfortable in their pens as more litter were produced, thereby their performances were reduced which was evident in their low live weights and high mortality rate.