Evaluation of field-stored switchgrass hay as bedding material for broilers

Abstract

Summary: Availability and expense of preferred bedding materials such as pine shavings has prompted evaluation of other materials. Grass hay derived from high-yielding biomass cultivars has been successfully employed as bedding material in both research and commercial applications. Grass hay for ruminant feed can be stored outdoors if protected, and outdoor storage may provide additional flexibility in transportation and supply of grass hay bedding. This study examined live performance in straight-run broilers reared on new grass hay bedding and grass hay bedding that had been stored outdoors in polyethylene wrap for 2 seasons. Live performance was affected primarily in the starter and grower phases, with stored hay bedding treatments resulting in depressed BW (59 g difference; P = 0.0034) and body weight gain (58 g difference; P = 0.0038) in the grower phase. FCR was significantly elevated in both the starter phase (0.02 g:g difference; P = 0.0052) and the grower phase (0.07 g:g difference; P < 0.0001) for the stored hay bedding treatment. Overall flock FCR was significantly increased (P = 0.0404) by 0.05 g:g for the stored hay bedding treatment. Performance declines diminished during the finisher and withdrawal diet phases, likely because of a reduction in litter consumption. Mortality was not different between treatments (N = 1.06% and S = 1.57%); stored hay did not appear to affect bird health.

Keywords

• bedding
• poultry housing
• sustainable production