Evaluation of Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Litter Quality and Foot Lesions of Broilers Reared under High Stocking Densities

Two repeated experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different stocking densities on broiler performance, carcass characteristics, litter quality and foot lesions using 5224 one day-old Ross 308 broilers. In each experiment, a total of 2612 one day-old broilers were allocated in 16 floor pens at densities of 16, 18, 20 and 22 birds/m^2 of floor space in an environmentally controlled broiler house. Data collected from the two experiments were pooled together for statistical analysis. The results indicated that body weight gain significantly decreased with increasing stocking density (P 0.05). Density beyond 16 birds/m2 significantly decreased the body weight gain at 1 to 21 day of age and density beyond 20 birds/m2 significantly decreased the body weight gains at 22 to 42 day of age and in whole experimental period (P 0.05). Body weight gain expressed as kg BW/m2 increased linearly with increased stocking density (P 0.05). Treatments had no significant effects on feed conversion ratio, mortality rate, production efficiency index (PEI), carcass dressing measurements (carcass weight and relative weights of liver, abdominal fat, bursa of fabricius, spleen and parameters of the broiler litter (moisture, pH and ammonia level) (P 0.05). Foot pad lesions significantly increased as stocking density increased (P 0.05), but hock burns was not affected by increasing stocking density. In conclusion, based on the obtained results of this study, 20 birds/m^2 of floor space was an appropriate density for rearing broilers in an environmentally controlled broiler house.