Different litter compositions influence broiler chicken locomotion.

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Science
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Effective broiler chicken bedding must manage moisture, cushion impacts, and permit natural behaviors to prevent injuries.
• Footpad and joint lesions, along with carcass quality, are influenced by bedding properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of various bedding materials, including dried grass (Zoysia japonica) at different inclusion rates, on broiler chicken locomotor system health.
• To determine the relationship between litter composition and the incidence of pododermatitis, lameness, and skeletal issues.

Main Methods:

• A completely randomized design with a 3x2 factorial arrangement evaluated six litter treatments (wood shavings, rice husks, and combinations with 25% or 50% dried grass).
• Broiler chickens (Cobb 500®) were monitored from 8 to 42 days of age for pododermatitis, gait score, latency to lie, and leg angles.
• Post-slaughter evaluations included femoral degeneration and tibial dyschondroplasia.

Main Results:

• Litter composition did not significantly affect lameness, tibial dyschondroplasia, or spondylolisthesis.
• Pododermatitis incidence increased significantly in broilers housed on litter containing 50% dried grass after 28 days of age.

Conclusions:

• Broiler chicken age is a more significant factor in locomotion injury development than bedding material type.
• Inclusion of dried grass in broiler bedding is advisable only for younger birds to mitigate potential negative effects on footpad health.