Evaluation of different litter types and stocking densities on the productivity of two broilers commercial lines

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of three stocking densities (10, 12 and 14 birds/m2), three litter types (rice hull, colonião grass (Panicum maximum, jacq.) and elephant grass C. V. napier (Pennisetum purpureum, schum.) and two lines (Arbor Acres and Hubbard) on the productivity index of broilers in the period 1 (1-28 days), 2 (29 -45 days) and total (1-45 days). Five hundred four chicks were used in a randomized block design with factorial arrangement of 3x3x2x2. Commercial ration were given containing 22% and 19% of crude protein in the periods 1 and 2, respectively. The studied characteristics were: mean body weight, daily mean weight gain, viability, production per unit of area and productive efficiency index. The different lines had significant effects (P < 0,01) on all characteristics except viability in all periods and productive efficiency index in period 2, the line Hubbard showed the highest averages. The different litter types had no significant effects ( P > 0,05) on all studied characteristics, except production per unit of area and productive efficiency index in period 1, to which it was observed significative interaction of line x litter. The stocking densities affected linearly ( P < 0,01) only the characteristic production per unit of area.