Program update

Program 6: New insights into how different diets impact chicken growth, health and litter quality

What impacts do different diets have on growth, health and litter quality of broiler chickens? What are some of the potential trade-offs between measures that may seem beneficial when viewed in isolation? A recent study revealed integrated insights into understanding the effects of nutritional interventions on various aspects of chicken production.

The researchers collected litter samples from different pens and measured moisture content using a standard oven-dry method and a hand-held moisture meter. They also assessed performance parameters such as feed intake, growth and feed conversion ratio, as well as health parameters like footpad lesions and hock burn scores.

The study found, not surprisingly, that lower litter moisture content was associated with fewer hock burns in birds as well as having environmental and health benefits. It also showed that reduced feed intake in certain diets led to better growth and feed conversion ratios, indicating potential trade-offs between production and health outcomes.

Comparable results from the standard over-dry method and the hand-held moisture meter suggest that hand-held moisture meters may be useful for assessing litter moisture content, although further work is needed to standardise methods across different litter and barn types.

The study highlights the importance of integrating production, health and environmental parameters when evaluating the impact of alternative feed ingredients and nutrition strategies.

These insights could help industry further enhance diet formulations to improve chicken health and well-being while balancing production costs.

The researchers were Robin Melwani, Milan Kandel, Shemil Macelline, and Sonia Liu from Program 3A and Ruth Zadoks from Program 6b at The University of Sydne and Mark Dunlop from Program 5 at the Department of Primary Industries Queensland.