title: Effects of different floor types and levels of washing of waterers on broiler performance and bacteria count of drinking water.
abstract: The objective of the present experiment was to determine the effect of different flooring materials and washing of waterers on broiler performance. The floor treatments were 1) black, plastic-coated expanded metal, relatively rigid (B); 2) white plastic, semi-rigid, with rectangular openings (WR); 3) white plastic, semi-rigid, with square openings (WS); and 4) 3 cm of rice hull litter (C). One hanging waterer was placed in each pen. Wash treatments were 1) trough and bell washed every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (AW); 2) wash trough only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (TW); and 3) the waterers were never washed after the 2nd wk (NW). Broilers reared on C has significantly lower BW than those broilers on B floors. Broilers reared on the B and WS floors had significantly higher breast blister scores and percentage of birds with blisters than broilers reared on C floors. Broilers reared on C had lower enlarged feather follicle scores than those reared on all raised floors and a lower percentage of enlarged feather follicles than those broilers reared on WS or WR floors. Broilers reared on WS+TW had significantly better feed conversion than WS+AW, B+TW, and B+AW treatments. Broilers reared on WR+TW treatment were significantly higher in breast blister score than broilers reared on WR+AW, C+TW, and C+AW treatments. Broilers reared on C+TW and C+AW treatments were significantly lower in breast blister score except for broilers reared on C+NW, WR+AW, and WS+AW treatments. Broilers reared on C+NW treatment were significantly lower in enlarged feather follicle score than those broilers reared on B+TW, WR+AW, and WS+NW treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Poultry Science Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Stamps
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Newberry
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*