Effect of Bedding Type on Bird Performance and Gut Health

Rebwar Ahmed; Caroline  Rymer; Darren Juniper

doi:10.35516/jjas.v21i1.1656

Authors

Rebwar Ahmed Teacher https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1113-2736
Caroline Rymer University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3535-4330
Darren Juniper University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7709-2949

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/jjas.v21i1.1656

Keywords:

Broilers, wood shavings, Envirobed, gut health

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare wood shavings with Envirobed to determine the effect of bedding source on estimates of the amount of bedding consumed, and on some of the gut health indicators/microbial biomarkers (digesta dry matter content and the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium perfringens in the caecum of birds) and diet dry matter availability (assessed using titanium dioxide as a marker). A total of 144 Ross 308 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to one of two bedding material treatments (Envirobed or wood shavings). Bird weight was greater for broilers kept on wood shavings, but birds consumed more Envirobed bedding and this was associated with drier digesta, suggesting a lower risk of Foot Pad Dermatitis with Envirobed. The caecal presence of either Campylobacter jejuni or Clostridium perfringens was not affected by the source of bedding. Rearing birds on wood shavings appears to be beneficial to broiler performance.

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Author Biographies

Caroline Rymer, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Division of Animal, Dairy and Food Chain Science, School of Agriculture, Policy, and Development, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

Darren Juniper, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Division of Animal, Dairy and Food Chain Science, School of Agriculture, Policy, and Development, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

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