- Email: [email protected]
Effect of Type of Housing on Production of Broilers
Effect of Type of Housing on Production of Broilers M. G. M C C A R T N E Y
Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 (Received for publication November 25, 1976)
Poultry Science 56:1052-1053, 1977 INTRODUCTION Broiler housing in t h e South consists primarily of houses with insulated roofs and a u t o m a t i c or manually o p e r a t e d side curtains for ventilation. T h e r e is still interest a m o n g broiler firms in t h e use of windowless, fan ventilated houses with evaporative coolers for t h e p r o d u c t i o n of broilers. F r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t of growth, feed conversion, m o r t a l i t y and c o n d e m n a t i o n , t h e r e is no u n a n i m o u s agreem e n t concerning which t y p e of housing is superior for producing broilers (Chalaupka et al., 1 9 6 7 ; Stevens, 1 9 6 7 ; Griffin et al, 1 9 6 8 ; McCartney, 1 9 7 1 ; D e n d y , 1 9 7 4 ; and others). Therefore, a study was u n d e r t a k e n t o further e x p l o r e t h e effect of housing t y p e o n broiler performance. PROCEDURE A 9.75m. X 6 4 . 6 2 m . h o u s e located a t t h e University's Poultry Research Center was used t o rear t h e broilers for this s t u d y . One end of t h e house was totally enclosed and insulated t o provide a 9.75m. X 2 9 . 2 6 m . windowless section, equipped with fans and evaporative coolers. T h e o t h e r e n d of t h e house ( 9 . 7 5 m . X 2 9 . 2 6 m . ) was open-sided, with a u t o m a t i c operated side wall curtains, insulated roof and represented a conventional broiler h o u s e used in t h e S o u t h . Each section of t h e house was sub-divided i n t o t w o equal sized pens ( 9 . 7 5 m . X 1 4 . 6 3 m . ) by a wire partition. All pens in b o t h sections of t h e h o u s e were equipped with t h e same brooding, a u t o m a t i c watering and feeding system and t h e same lighting system. In each of t h e t h r e e trials, 2 , 0 0 0 commercial broiler-type chicks, mixed sex, were placed in
each pen. A t 5 0 days of age t h e y were caught, weighed and t r a n s p o r t e d to a local processing p l a n t . During t h e 50-day growing period d a t a were collected on g r o w t h , feed c o n s u m p t i o n and m o r t a l i t y . Data on c o n d e m n a t i o n were o b t a i n e d for each trial from t h e processing plant. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION T h e m e a n weights, feed conversion and m o r t a l i t y for b o t h t y p e s of housing are presented in Table 1. T h e b o d y weight data was analyzed using analyses of variance of pen means. Analyses of t h e b o d y weight data showed t h a t t h e r e was n o significant differences for housing t y p e (conventional vs. windowless). T h e difference among trials was highly significant with t h e b o d y weights for t h e first trial being larger t h a n those for t h e second and t h i r d trials for b o t h t y p e s of housing. Feed conversion d a t a could n o t be analyzed statistically because t h e use of o n e a u t o m a t i c feeder for each end of t h e house did n o t allow separation of feed c o n s u m p t i o n by pens. Except for t h e first trial, feed conversion was slightly b e t t e r for t h e birds reared in t h e windowless house. Mortality for t h e three trials t e n d e d t o be slightly greater for t h e birds reared in t h e windowless h o u s e . C o n d e m n a t i o n s at t h e processing plants was .30, .29 and .28 percent, respectively, for t h e t h r e e trials. T h e results of this s t u d y indicate t h a t t h e r e were n o real differences in t h e performance of birds g r o w n in a conventional or windowless broiler house. Research will be initiated t o d e t e r m i n e fossil fuel energy inputs required to grow broilers with these t w o t y p e s of housing.
1052
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of North Dakota on May 26, 2015
ABSTRACT A total of 24,000 commercial broiler type chicks, mixed sex, were reared in three trials in a windowless type house and a commercial-type house to determine the effects of housing on broiler performance. There was no significant difference in body weight at market age (50 days of age) for housing type. Feed conversion for all three trials were slightly better for the birds reared in the windowless house. Mortality was also slightly greater for the birds reared in the windowless house (2.86 vs. 2.24 percent).
RESEARCH NOTES
1053
TABLE 1. — Effect of house type on growth, feed conversion and mortality of broilers1 House type
Av. body wt., kg.2
Feed conversion
% mortality
Windowless
1 2 3_ X
1.71 a 1.64b 1.60 b 1.6 5 A
1.99 2.03 1.86 1.96
3.94a 1.57^ 3.08 a 2.86 A
Conventional
1 2 3_ X
1.74 a 1.65 b 1.61 b 1.6 7 A
1.96 2.05 1.95 1.99
3.10 a 1.68 b 1.94 b 2.24 A
1
Means with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05).
2
50 days of age.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT T h e a u t h o r wishes t o t h a n k Mr. William C. Harshbarger for his assistance with this study.
REFERENCES Chalaupka, G. W., E. W. Walpole, R. W. Lloyd, J. F. Gordy and L. M. Greene, 1967. Evaluation of a windowless broiler house. Poultry Sci. 46:1242. Dendy, M. Y., 1974. Broiler performance in a pad-
and-fan ventilated house vs. a curtain-sided house. Poultry Sci. 53:1917. Griffin, J. G., R. T. Parkhurst and T. H. Vardaman, 1968. Environmental conditions and chick response comparisons in windowless and conventional broiler houses. Poultry Sci. 47:1626. McCartney, M. G., 1971. Effect of type of housing and litter on production of broilers. Poultry Sci. 50:1200-1202. Stevens, F. R., 1967. Seasonal broiler performance in windowless broiler housing. Poultry Sci. 41:1323.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of North Dakota on May 26, 2015
Trial
Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 (Received for publication November 25, 1976)
Poultry Science 56:1052-1053, 1977 INTRODUCTION Broiler housing in t h e South consists primarily of houses with insulated roofs and a u t o m a t i c or manually o p e r a t e d side curtains for ventilation. T h e r e is still interest a m o n g broiler firms in t h e use of windowless, fan ventilated houses with evaporative coolers for t h e p r o d u c t i o n of broilers. F r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t of growth, feed conversion, m o r t a l i t y and c o n d e m n a t i o n , t h e r e is no u n a n i m o u s agreem e n t concerning which t y p e of housing is superior for producing broilers (Chalaupka et al., 1 9 6 7 ; Stevens, 1 9 6 7 ; Griffin et al, 1 9 6 8 ; McCartney, 1 9 7 1 ; D e n d y , 1 9 7 4 ; and others). Therefore, a study was u n d e r t a k e n t o further e x p l o r e t h e effect of housing t y p e o n broiler performance. PROCEDURE A 9.75m. X 6 4 . 6 2 m . h o u s e located a t t h e University's Poultry Research Center was used t o rear t h e broilers for this s t u d y . One end of t h e house was totally enclosed and insulated t o provide a 9.75m. X 2 9 . 2 6 m . windowless section, equipped with fans and evaporative coolers. T h e o t h e r e n d of t h e house ( 9 . 7 5 m . X 2 9 . 2 6 m . ) was open-sided, with a u t o m a t i c operated side wall curtains, insulated roof and represented a conventional broiler h o u s e used in t h e S o u t h . Each section of t h e house was sub-divided i n t o t w o equal sized pens ( 9 . 7 5 m . X 1 4 . 6 3 m . ) by a wire partition. All pens in b o t h sections of t h e h o u s e were equipped with t h e same brooding, a u t o m a t i c watering and feeding system and t h e same lighting system. In each of t h e t h r e e trials, 2 , 0 0 0 commercial broiler-type chicks, mixed sex, were placed in
each pen. A t 5 0 days of age t h e y were caught, weighed and t r a n s p o r t e d to a local processing p l a n t . During t h e 50-day growing period d a t a were collected on g r o w t h , feed c o n s u m p t i o n and m o r t a l i t y . Data on c o n d e m n a t i o n were o b t a i n e d for each trial from t h e processing plant. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION T h e m e a n weights, feed conversion and m o r t a l i t y for b o t h t y p e s of housing are presented in Table 1. T h e b o d y weight data was analyzed using analyses of variance of pen means. Analyses of t h e b o d y weight data showed t h a t t h e r e was n o significant differences for housing t y p e (conventional vs. windowless). T h e difference among trials was highly significant with t h e b o d y weights for t h e first trial being larger t h a n those for t h e second and t h i r d trials for b o t h t y p e s of housing. Feed conversion d a t a could n o t be analyzed statistically because t h e use of o n e a u t o m a t i c feeder for each end of t h e house did n o t allow separation of feed c o n s u m p t i o n by pens. Except for t h e first trial, feed conversion was slightly b e t t e r for t h e birds reared in t h e windowless house. Mortality for t h e three trials t e n d e d t o be slightly greater for t h e birds reared in t h e windowless h o u s e . C o n d e m n a t i o n s at t h e processing plants was .30, .29 and .28 percent, respectively, for t h e t h r e e trials. T h e results of this s t u d y indicate t h a t t h e r e were n o real differences in t h e performance of birds g r o w n in a conventional or windowless broiler house. Research will be initiated t o d e t e r m i n e fossil fuel energy inputs required to grow broilers with these t w o t y p e s of housing.
1052
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of North Dakota on May 26, 2015
ABSTRACT A total of 24,000 commercial broiler type chicks, mixed sex, were reared in three trials in a windowless type house and a commercial-type house to determine the effects of housing on broiler performance. There was no significant difference in body weight at market age (50 days of age) for housing type. Feed conversion for all three trials were slightly better for the birds reared in the windowless house. Mortality was also slightly greater for the birds reared in the windowless house (2.86 vs. 2.24 percent).
RESEARCH NOTES
1053
TABLE 1. — Effect of house type on growth, feed conversion and mortality of broilers1 House type
Av. body wt., kg.2
Feed conversion
% mortality
Windowless
1 2 3_ X
1.71 a 1.64b 1.60 b 1.6 5 A
1.99 2.03 1.86 1.96
3.94a 1.57^ 3.08 a 2.86 A
Conventional
1 2 3_ X
1.74 a 1.65 b 1.61 b 1.6 7 A
1.96 2.05 1.95 1.99
3.10 a 1.68 b 1.94 b 2.24 A
1
Means with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05).
2
50 days of age.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT T h e a u t h o r wishes t o t h a n k Mr. William C. Harshbarger for his assistance with this study.
REFERENCES Chalaupka, G. W., E. W. Walpole, R. W. Lloyd, J. F. Gordy and L. M. Greene, 1967. Evaluation of a windowless broiler house. Poultry Sci. 46:1242. Dendy, M. Y., 1974. Broiler performance in a pad-
and-fan ventilated house vs. a curtain-sided house. Poultry Sci. 53:1917. Griffin, J. G., R. T. Parkhurst and T. H. Vardaman, 1968. Environmental conditions and chick response comparisons in windowless and conventional broiler houses. Poultry Sci. 47:1626. McCartney, M. G., 1971. Effect of type of housing and litter on production of broilers. Poultry Sci. 50:1200-1202. Stevens, F. R., 1967. Seasonal broiler performance in windowless broiler housing. Poultry Sci. 41:1323.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of North Dakota on May 26, 2015
Trial