| Abstract: | Students were conducted to determine the influence of cage and bottom types, new litter materials and housing regimes on the performance of commercial broilers and turkeys, respectively. This research measured the effect of three cage prototypes and four types of perforated plastic floors on body weight, feed conversion, livability and incidence of breast blisters. The influence of various litter materials on these same four important measurements of broiler performance was observed. The effects of bird density, housing system and environmental control on turkey performance indicators were also studied. Broilers grown in commercial poultry transportation coops constructed of 1.11 cm (7/16") wooden dowles on 5.08 cm. (2") centers were significantly heavier at 8 weeks of age than similar birds raised in cages covered with 2.54 x 3.17 cm. (1" x 1 1/2") mesh rubber-coated wire or 1.27 x 2.54 (1/2" x 1") mesh hardware cloth. Feed efficiency of birds raised in the wooden dowel coops were significantly better than the feed conversion of broilers grown in the other two types of cages. There were no significant differences in livability or incidence of breast blisters due to cage type. The size, shape and number of perforations per square meter in the plastic cage bottoms did not have a significant effect on body weight, feed efficiency or livability. Increasing the number of perforations per square foot and reducing the size of these holes significantly lowered the incidence of breast blisters. |
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