The effect of the type of litter materials on litter quality and parameters of growth and economic performance of broiler chickens

Effect of the type of material used as litter on litter quality and performance and economic parameters of broilers was investigated using 300 day-old Ross-308 broiler chickens by three types of bedding material [date palm leaf (DPL), rice paddy (RP) and cardboard roll (CR)] based on a randomized complete design with three treatments and five replications. The thickness of DPL and RP and CR litters were 3, 3 cm, and the 0.5 mm, respectively. The results showed that water holding capacity of DPL litter was higher than RP and CR litters (P0.05). The ammonia nitrogen content of DPL litter in 28 day was lower than RP and CR litters (P0.05), and this variable in DPL and RP litters in 43 days was significantly higher than CR litter (P0.05). The daily weight gain of broilers in whole period, final live weight and production index in birds raised on DPL litter were higher than RP and CR litters (P0.05). The feed cost and feed conversion ratio of whole period in the birds raised on DPL litter were lower than RP and CR litters (P0.05). The survivality of the birds raised on DPL and RP litters were higher than CR litter (P0.05. In total, the results showed that DPL litter, by improving of performance and economical parameters, can be used an appropriate alternative as broilers litter for RP and CR litters.