One hundred and eighty one-day old broilers (Arbor Acres) were used in this study. The chicks were divided into three groups: The chicks were reared on wheat straw litter (group 1); the birds were reared on sand litter (group 2) and Group 3 where the birds were reared on saw dust litter. The chicks were raised on these types of litter from 0 to 49 days of age. The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
The birds reared on sand litter had the heaviest body weights as compared with those reared on wheat straw or saw dust. Also, the overall mean for body weight gain (BWG) followed the same trend as body weight (BW). The type of litter had no effect on feed consumption (FC). The cumulative feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (P<0.05) better for birds of groups 1 and 2 as compared with those of group 3. Birds of group 2 had better FCR as compared with those of group 3. The mortality rate (MR) was 16.7, 6.7, and 20.0 % for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
No significant differences were found in carcass, feet and shanks, head, neck, drumsticks, femurs, breast, wings, and back weight percentages. Moreover, type of litter had no significant effect on fat contents (drumstick, femur and breast), shank length or heart, liver, proventriculus, spleen, lungs, gizzard, intestines, and kidneys weight percentages. Broilers reared on wheat straw or saw dust showed a larger number of foot lesions than those reared on sand litter. Besides, sand litter had lower bacterial counts than saw dust and wheat straw, which showed the greatest bacterial counts. No mold populations were observed at sand or wheat straw litter, however, high mold populations were found in saw dust litter. Red blood cells (RBCs) increased significantly (P<0.05) by 6.93 % in birds reared on sand than that of birds reared on wheat straw or saw dust. Hemoglobin (HG) and heamatocrit (HC) were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in birds of group 3 as compared to those of groups 1 and 2.
It was proved that group 2 (reared on sand litter) had the best economic efficiency (EE) value as compared with groups 1 and 3 (reared on wheat straw or sawdust, respectively).