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Newspaper as Litter Material and its Effects on the Performance of Broilers1
01993 Appli Poultry scienoe, I n r
NEWSPAPER AS LITTER MATERIAL AND ITSEFFECTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS'
Primary Audience: Production Managers, Researchers, Flock Supervisors
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM The primary bedding materials for poultry are pine shavings and sawdust. In some areas the availab&ty of these products is limited. Decreasingsupplies of conventionalLitter materials have contributed to the growth and centralization of the poultry industry 11) as well as increased usage in the compositeboard and horticultural industries 121. The demand for bedding materials has reduced their availability and increased costs to the point that alternative materials are becoming feasible. Malone et uf. 131, using kenaf core, and Veltmann et al. [4], using rice hull products, observed no differences in growth perfor-
mance and carcass parameters of broilers when these materials were compared to wood shavings or sawdust. However, due to the availabiiity of kenaf core and rice hull products, their use as litter substitutes is limited. It has been estimated that an average of 62million newspapers become waste products each day 14.In addition, society has become more aware of the decreasing number of landfills and of environmental concernsassociated with the disposal of newspaper. The use of newspaper as litter material could offer a means of disposal which might in turn benefit the broiler industry.
1 Paper No.93-5-32 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station 2 To whom correspondence should be addressed
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
G. B. BURKE, A. J. PESCATORE2,A. H. CANTOR, M.L STRAW, HUA XIANGBAI, and I :H.JOHNSON Deparbnent ofAnimal Sciences, University of fintucky, Leaington, KY40546-0215 Phone: (606)257-7529 FAX: (606)258-1027
Research Report BURKE et d
over paper (SF’), and 4) paper layered over shavings (P/S). Litter material was added to each pen to a height of 15 an.The litter miutures for treatments WSP, SF’, and P/S con&ed 50% wood shavingsand SO% shredded newspaper by volume. S i x replicate pens of 48 buds for each ofthe four titter typeswere used. The chickswere fed a commercialstartergrower diet throughout the trial. The feed contained 20% crude protein and 1330 Kcal Mmb. The feed was medicated with furazolidone, added at a rate of 50 @ton. At -39, and 46 days of age, body weight and feed consumption were measured. At 46 days of age, buds were evaluated for breast blisters and visible leg problems. Breast blisters were evaluated based on diameter by giving a subjective score of small (1 cm),medium (15 cm),and large (2an). Litter samples were taken on day 46 and measured for percent dry matter. Five samples were taken from each pen, with a representative sample taken from a mixture of the five. Subsequently, a 75 g sample was taken from each pen and dried at 82°C for ?2 hours. Statistical analyses were performed using a hear models program for micro computers [lo]. All data were analyzed using a oneway ANOVA with treatment means separated by the test of least significant differences1111. A probability of <-05 was required for statements of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Body weight at 46 days was 2.090,2105, 2.069, and 2065 kg for WS,WSP, SP,and P/S, respedively. Litter treatment had no effect on weight gain or feed conversion (Table 1). The mean weight gain was 453 g/biud/day with a feed conversion of 0.430 (gakfeed). This is in agreement with results from previous studies in which paper products were used [2,6].Feed intake was significantly different (days 40 to 46) for the S/P and P/S treatments compared to the WS treatment. Litter condition expressed as percent dry matter was poorest for the S/P and P/S treatments at 46 days @able 2). The increased litter moisture may have had detrimental effects on the buds, resulting in reduced feed intake. Dry matter content at 46 days was 725% for WS litter, 66% for WSP, 64.2% for S/p, and 60.3% for PB. Litter moisture tended to be
llMATERLALsAND METHODS Nonprinted newspaper, consisting of ends of rolls and trims, was used in this trial. Before being placed in the pens, the newspaper was shredded into pieces with art average size of 1.81 an2. The experiment was conducted in floor pens measuring 1.8 X 2 4 m with concrete floors, bell-type waterers, and hanging tube feeders. The chicks were obtained from a commercial hatchery and were placed 48 per pen (24 male, 24 female) at one day of age. The four litter treatments were: 1) wood shavings (WS), 2) wood shavings mixed with paper (WSP),3) shavings layered
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
Increased interest in the use of newspaper as a litter source has occurred in the last few years. processed paper chips [Z,61, shredded newspaper [2], and processed cardboard [2] have been shown to be suitable litter substitutes for wood shavings and sawdust. Malone et d.[2],reported that broiler growthwas improved with newspaper, but they suggested that due to the high level of caking,shredded newspaper might not be practical. The primary concern associated with using newspaper or newspaper products as litter is their high moisture holding capacity, which often leads to wet and caked litter. Smith [qand May and N o h [8] reported that increased litter moisture results in an increased inadence of breast blisters. Therefore, the control of litter moistureis *mperative to the success of newspaper as beddiog. If newspaper can be made a suitable litter source, the question of producer acceptance still exists. According to Carpenter er al. [9],a survey of broiler producers in West Vuginia indicated that 65% would be willing to try newspaper as a litter material. Half of the producers indicated that they would pay as much as 75% of the cost of wood shavings for newspaper litter. Processed paper produds Seem to be an alternative for the broiler industry. However, their cost and availability are not well established. Therefore, the use of the newspaper waste products in shredded form may be the most economical bedding source. This study was conducted to determine if combinations of shredded newspaper and wood shavings would be acceptable substitutes for wood shavinp as a litter source.
155
JAPR NEWSPAPER As BROIILER LITTER
156 TABLE 1. Effect of litter treatment on broiler performance
56.6
592
584
56.7
47.4
458
44.0
44.1
046
45.4
458
45.0
44.9
Gaidfeed a499
051s
0524
0510
23-39
0.417
0.433
0.432
0.417
40-46
O B
0.292
0.291
0.294
0-46
0.426
0.433
0.435
0.427
0-22
*WS = wood shavingq WSP = wood shavingsmixedwith shredded nz r ( W 5 0 ) ; s/p = wood shavings layered s awng. over shredded newspaper;P/S = shrrdded newspaperlayeredovcr w Means in r w w i t b different cupemcriplsare different (P< .OS).
greater for the paper treatments than for wood shavings alone. An increased incidence of litter caking was observed in the WSP, S/P and PB treatments. Malone et al. (21 observed increased litter moisture levels and subsequent litter caking. According to Weaver and Meijerhof (111,Litter cakingand moisture content were greatly influend by relative humidity. The 46 day period during which this study took place included some adverse weather conditions that could have led to increased litter moisture. The maximum relative humiditywas 100%for 17days, and the minimumdid not drop below 70% for 12 days.
No significantdifferences occurred in the incidence of leg problems or in mortality (Table 2). The incidence of breast blisters was quite variable between pens. The incidence of breast blisters for the WSP, PB, and S/P treatments was twice that of the WS treatment (Table 2). The WS treatment also exhibited a lower incidence of large breast blisters than the other treatments (Figure 1). Smith [7], Wsman and Beane [U], and May and Noles [SI observed an increase in breast blisters as litter moisture increased. Litter moisture was highest for PB and lowest for WS. The litter moisture data correspondsto the breast blister
LcITERl-REA~E~
PERlOD (Days)
ws
WSP
s/P
P/S
Dry matter ('16)
725
66.0
642
603
Leg problems (%) Cumulative mortality ('16)
13.2
l32
10.0
17.0
9.7
83
6.6
73
8.0
183
16.0
17.0
Breast blisters (%)
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
23-39 40-46
Research Report BURKE et al.
157
% OF TOTAL BLISTERS
70 60
50 40
20 10
1
1.5 SIZE OF BLISTER (CM)
2
flGURE 1. Size and distributionof breast blisters
data in which WS,the driest litter, resulted in the lowest incidence of breast blisters. Malone and Chaloupka1131 reported that the incidence of breast blisters decreased as litter particle size decreased. Lien et a ' . [6] suggested that the reduced abrasiveness of paper products minimkd the negativeeffects of increased moisture holding capacity when using recycled paper chips. In addition, they hypothesized that the increased moisture holding capacity of paper chips may have allowed increased litter moisture without deleterious effects to the buds. The average size of newspaper pieces used in the-presentstudy was 1.81 an,which according to Ruszler and Carson [14] should have a lower water holding capacity and faster evaporative loss than the litter material used by Lien et aL [6].However, the litter moisture
,
on paper treatments was higher in our study, resulting in agreater number of breast blisters. It is possiblethat duringthe process of restructuring the paper into a chip (as in the study by Lei et al. [6]),the porosity and thus the moisture holding capacity and evaporative loss is improved over that of unmanufactured paper products. Our results indicate that shredded newspaper can be a satisfactorylitter material when
CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS 1. Satisfactoryresults can be obtained by using shredded newspaper as a base layer for wood shavings, as a topping for an existing litter base, or in a mixture with wood shavings. 2. The high moisture holding capacity of newspaper necessitates careful management of the
water system and the environmental humidity in order to use newspaper products successfully as b e d d q material.
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
30
JAPR NEWSPAPER AS BROIILER LITTER
158
REFERENCES AND NOTES
8. May, K.N. and RK. N o h 1965. Effect of h-ridin and litter moisture on h and carcassdefects of broilers Poultry sci. 4 4 : G .
9. Csrpcnlcr, C.H., AW. Selders, R A Childs, and DJ. W o h n , 1991. West Virginia poultry litter surv Cumnt practices and future needs. Poultry Sci. (suppl. 1):23. 10. SI'ATISIX, Version 35, Analytical Software, St. Paul, MN. 11. SDcdceor, C.W. and W.G. Chchran, 1989. Statistical Methods. Iowa State Unklsity Press. A m y LA. 12. Wuvtr, W.D., Jr. and R Mckrbof, 1991. The effect ofdifferent kvtlsof relative humidi and air movement on litter condition, ammonia kyc't carcass quality of broiler chick Poultry Sci. =7%d 13. Wktnan, EL and W.L Berm, 1965 Effect of some management factors on the incidence of breast blisters in heavy broilers Poultry Sci. 44937-741. 14. MPlom, C.W. and C.W. Cbploupka, 1983. Influence of litter type and size on broikr performance. 2 Processed n rlitterparticksizc and management. Poultry s ~ i . ~ K 1 7 s o . 15. Ruszler, P.L and J.R Carson, 1974. Methods of evaluating the potential usefulnebs of selected litter materials. Poultry Sci. 531420-1427.
%
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
1. Lkn, RI.,1992. Recycled per products for poultry bedding. In: P a . National youltry Waste Management Symposium, Birmingham, AL, pp. 285-291 2. Malone, C.W., P.H. AUcn, C.W. cbsloopka, and W.F. Ritter, 1982. Recycled paper products as broiler litter. Poultry Sci. 61:216165. 3. Malone, G.W., E D . Tilmon,and RW. Taylor,1990. Evaluation of kenaf cote for broiler litter. Poultry Sci. 69206467. 4. Vel(lll.nn, LR,F A Cardoer, and SS Unlon, 1984. Comparison of rice hull products as litter material and dietary fat levels on turkey poult performance. Poultry Sei. 63:2%5-51. 5. H c M k h , J.E and S Howard,1990. Absorbcncyof newsprint. In: CDFS-125, Ohio Coop. Ext. Sew., Ohio State Univ., p. 2 6. Lkn,RJ., D.E Comer, and SF. BilgUl, 1992. The use of-ed pa r chip as a litter material for rearing broiler chlckens. <aySci. 7181-87. 7. Smith, RC, 1956. Kind of litter and breast blisters on broilers. Poultry Sci. 355934%.
NEWSPAPER AS LITTER MATERIAL AND ITSEFFECTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS'
Primary Audience: Production Managers, Researchers, Flock Supervisors
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM The primary bedding materials for poultry are pine shavings and sawdust. In some areas the availab&ty of these products is limited. Decreasingsupplies of conventionalLitter materials have contributed to the growth and centralization of the poultry industry 11) as well as increased usage in the compositeboard and horticultural industries 121. The demand for bedding materials has reduced their availability and increased costs to the point that alternative materials are becoming feasible. Malone et uf. 131, using kenaf core, and Veltmann et al. [4], using rice hull products, observed no differences in growth perfor-
mance and carcass parameters of broilers when these materials were compared to wood shavings or sawdust. However, due to the availabiiity of kenaf core and rice hull products, their use as litter substitutes is limited. It has been estimated that an average of 62million newspapers become waste products each day 14.In addition, society has become more aware of the decreasing number of landfills and of environmental concernsassociated with the disposal of newspaper. The use of newspaper as litter material could offer a means of disposal which might in turn benefit the broiler industry.
1 Paper No.93-5-32 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station 2 To whom correspondence should be addressed
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
G. B. BURKE, A. J. PESCATORE2,A. H. CANTOR, M.L STRAW, HUA XIANGBAI, and I :H.JOHNSON Deparbnent ofAnimal Sciences, University of fintucky, Leaington, KY40546-0215 Phone: (606)257-7529 FAX: (606)258-1027
Research Report BURKE et d
over paper (SF’), and 4) paper layered over shavings (P/S). Litter material was added to each pen to a height of 15 an.The litter miutures for treatments WSP, SF’, and P/S con&ed 50% wood shavingsand SO% shredded newspaper by volume. S i x replicate pens of 48 buds for each ofthe four titter typeswere used. The chickswere fed a commercialstartergrower diet throughout the trial. The feed contained 20% crude protein and 1330 Kcal Mmb. The feed was medicated with furazolidone, added at a rate of 50 @ton. At -39, and 46 days of age, body weight and feed consumption were measured. At 46 days of age, buds were evaluated for breast blisters and visible leg problems. Breast blisters were evaluated based on diameter by giving a subjective score of small (1 cm),medium (15 cm),and large (2an). Litter samples were taken on day 46 and measured for percent dry matter. Five samples were taken from each pen, with a representative sample taken from a mixture of the five. Subsequently, a 75 g sample was taken from each pen and dried at 82°C for ?2 hours. Statistical analyses were performed using a hear models program for micro computers [lo]. All data were analyzed using a oneway ANOVA with treatment means separated by the test of least significant differences1111. A probability of <-05 was required for statements of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Body weight at 46 days was 2.090,2105, 2.069, and 2065 kg for WS,WSP, SP,and P/S, respedively. Litter treatment had no effect on weight gain or feed conversion (Table 1). The mean weight gain was 453 g/biud/day with a feed conversion of 0.430 (gakfeed). This is in agreement with results from previous studies in which paper products were used [2,6].Feed intake was significantly different (days 40 to 46) for the S/P and P/S treatments compared to the WS treatment. Litter condition expressed as percent dry matter was poorest for the S/P and P/S treatments at 46 days @able 2). The increased litter moisture may have had detrimental effects on the buds, resulting in reduced feed intake. Dry matter content at 46 days was 725% for WS litter, 66% for WSP, 64.2% for S/p, and 60.3% for PB. Litter moisture tended to be
llMATERLALsAND METHODS Nonprinted newspaper, consisting of ends of rolls and trims, was used in this trial. Before being placed in the pens, the newspaper was shredded into pieces with art average size of 1.81 an2. The experiment was conducted in floor pens measuring 1.8 X 2 4 m with concrete floors, bell-type waterers, and hanging tube feeders. The chicks were obtained from a commercial hatchery and were placed 48 per pen (24 male, 24 female) at one day of age. The four litter treatments were: 1) wood shavings (WS), 2) wood shavings mixed with paper (WSP),3) shavings layered
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
Increased interest in the use of newspaper as a litter source has occurred in the last few years. processed paper chips [Z,61, shredded newspaper [2], and processed cardboard [2] have been shown to be suitable litter substitutes for wood shavings and sawdust. Malone et d.[2],reported that broiler growthwas improved with newspaper, but they suggested that due to the high level of caking,shredded newspaper might not be practical. The primary concern associated with using newspaper or newspaper products as litter is their high moisture holding capacity, which often leads to wet and caked litter. Smith [qand May and N o h [8] reported that increased litter moisture results in an increased inadence of breast blisters. Therefore, the control of litter moistureis *mperative to the success of newspaper as beddiog. If newspaper can be made a suitable litter source, the question of producer acceptance still exists. According to Carpenter er al. [9],a survey of broiler producers in West Vuginia indicated that 65% would be willing to try newspaper as a litter material. Half of the producers indicated that they would pay as much as 75% of the cost of wood shavings for newspaper litter. Processed paper produds Seem to be an alternative for the broiler industry. However, their cost and availability are not well established. Therefore, the use of the newspaper waste products in shredded form may be the most economical bedding source. This study was conducted to determine if combinations of shredded newspaper and wood shavings would be acceptable substitutes for wood shavinp as a litter source.
155
JAPR NEWSPAPER As BROIILER LITTER
156 TABLE 1. Effect of litter treatment on broiler performance
56.6
592
584
56.7
47.4
458
44.0
44.1
046
45.4
458
45.0
44.9
Gaidfeed a499
051s
0524
0510
23-39
0.417
0.433
0.432
0.417
40-46
O B
0.292
0.291
0.294
0-46
0.426
0.433
0.435
0.427
0-22
*WS = wood shavingq WSP = wood shavingsmixedwith shredded nz r ( W 5 0 ) ; s/p = wood shavings layered s awng. over shredded newspaper;P/S = shrrdded newspaperlayeredovcr w Means in r w w i t b different cupemcriplsare different (P< .OS).
greater for the paper treatments than for wood shavings alone. An increased incidence of litter caking was observed in the WSP, S/P and PB treatments. Malone et al. (21 observed increased litter moisture levels and subsequent litter caking. According to Weaver and Meijerhof (111,Litter cakingand moisture content were greatly influend by relative humidity. The 46 day period during which this study took place included some adverse weather conditions that could have led to increased litter moisture. The maximum relative humiditywas 100%for 17days, and the minimumdid not drop below 70% for 12 days.
No significantdifferences occurred in the incidence of leg problems or in mortality (Table 2). The incidence of breast blisters was quite variable between pens. The incidence of breast blisters for the WSP, PB, and S/P treatments was twice that of the WS treatment (Table 2). The WS treatment also exhibited a lower incidence of large breast blisters than the other treatments (Figure 1). Smith [7], Wsman and Beane [U], and May and Noles [SI observed an increase in breast blisters as litter moisture increased. Litter moisture was highest for PB and lowest for WS. The litter moisture data correspondsto the breast blister
LcITERl-REA~E~
PERlOD (Days)
ws
WSP
s/P
P/S
Dry matter ('16)
725
66.0
642
603
Leg problems (%) Cumulative mortality ('16)
13.2
l32
10.0
17.0
9.7
83
6.6
73
8.0
183
16.0
17.0
Breast blisters (%)
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
23-39 40-46
Research Report BURKE et al.
157
% OF TOTAL BLISTERS
70 60
50 40
20 10
1
1.5 SIZE OF BLISTER (CM)
2
flGURE 1. Size and distributionof breast blisters
data in which WS,the driest litter, resulted in the lowest incidence of breast blisters. Malone and Chaloupka1131 reported that the incidence of breast blisters decreased as litter particle size decreased. Lien et a ' . [6] suggested that the reduced abrasiveness of paper products minimkd the negativeeffects of increased moisture holding capacity when using recycled paper chips. In addition, they hypothesized that the increased moisture holding capacity of paper chips may have allowed increased litter moisture without deleterious effects to the buds. The average size of newspaper pieces used in the-presentstudy was 1.81 an,which according to Ruszler and Carson [14] should have a lower water holding capacity and faster evaporative loss than the litter material used by Lien et aL [6].However, the litter moisture
,
on paper treatments was higher in our study, resulting in agreater number of breast blisters. It is possiblethat duringthe process of restructuring the paper into a chip (as in the study by Lei et al. [6]),the porosity and thus the moisture holding capacity and evaporative loss is improved over that of unmanufactured paper products. Our results indicate that shredded newspaper can be a satisfactorylitter material when
CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS 1. Satisfactoryresults can be obtained by using shredded newspaper as a base layer for wood shavings, as a topping for an existing litter base, or in a mixture with wood shavings. 2. The high moisture holding capacity of newspaper necessitates careful management of the
water system and the environmental humidity in order to use newspaper products successfully as b e d d q material.
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
30
JAPR NEWSPAPER AS BROIILER LITTER
158
REFERENCES AND NOTES
8. May, K.N. and RK. N o h 1965. Effect of h-ridin and litter moisture on h and carcassdefects of broilers Poultry sci. 4 4 : G .
9. Csrpcnlcr, C.H., AW. Selders, R A Childs, and DJ. W o h n , 1991. West Virginia poultry litter surv Cumnt practices and future needs. Poultry Sci. (suppl. 1):23. 10. SI'ATISIX, Version 35, Analytical Software, St. Paul, MN. 11. SDcdceor, C.W. and W.G. Chchran, 1989. Statistical Methods. Iowa State Unklsity Press. A m y LA. 12. Wuvtr, W.D., Jr. and R Mckrbof, 1991. The effect ofdifferent kvtlsof relative humidi and air movement on litter condition, ammonia kyc't carcass quality of broiler chick Poultry Sci. =7%d 13. Wktnan, EL and W.L Berm, 1965 Effect of some management factors on the incidence of breast blisters in heavy broilers Poultry Sci. 44937-741. 14. MPlom, C.W. and C.W. Cbploupka, 1983. Influence of litter type and size on broikr performance. 2 Processed n rlitterparticksizc and management. Poultry s ~ i . ~ K 1 7 s o . 15. Ruszler, P.L and J.R Carson, 1974. Methods of evaluating the potential usefulnebs of selected litter materials. Poultry Sci. 531420-1427.
%
Downloaded from http://japr.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Georgia on June 7, 2015
1. Lkn, RI.,1992. Recycled per products for poultry bedding. In: P a . National youltry Waste Management Symposium, Birmingham, AL, pp. 285-291 2. Malone, C.W., P.H. AUcn, C.W. cbsloopka, and W.F. Ritter, 1982. Recycled paper products as broiler litter. Poultry Sci. 61:216165. 3. Malone, G.W., E D . Tilmon,and RW. Taylor,1990. Evaluation of kenaf cote for broiler litter. Poultry Sci. 69206467. 4. Vel(lll.nn, LR,F A Cardoer, and SS Unlon, 1984. Comparison of rice hull products as litter material and dietary fat levels on turkey poult performance. Poultry Sei. 63:2%5-51. 5. H c M k h , J.E and S Howard,1990. Absorbcncyof newsprint. In: CDFS-125, Ohio Coop. Ext. Sew., Ohio State Univ., p. 2 6. Lkn,RJ., D.E Comer, and SF. BilgUl, 1992. The use of-ed pa r chip as a litter material for rearing broiler chlckens. <aySci. 7181-87. 7. Smith, RC, 1956. Kind of litter and breast blisters on broilers. Poultry Sci. 355934%.