Effects of alum treatment of two litter materials on growth performance of broiler chicken

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of aluminum sulfate (alum) amendment to 2 litter materials on broiler growth performances. 645 newly born broiler chicks were randomly allocated into 4 litter groups (control straw, control sawdust, alum treated straw and alum treated sawdust). Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the 42 day experimental period. Chicks were placed in floor pens at a final stocking density of 12 bird/m(2). At the end of the experiment, live weights of control straw, control sawdust, alum treated straw and alum treated sawdust groups in females were 2173.46, 2183.43, 2365.74, 2383.27 g respectively and in males were 2566.69, 2503.43, 2578.68, 2675.46 g respectively. Alum provided benefits broiler weight gain when compared to the untreated control. FCR of control straw, control sawdust, alum treated straw and alum treated sawdust groups were 1.76, 1.72, 1.86 and 1.77 respectively. Livability of control straw, control sawdust, alum treated straw and alum treated sawdust groups in females were 88.59, 90.55, 83.97 and 88.13% respectively and in males 91.73, 96.51, 90.64 and 90.79% respectively. Livability (%) was not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. The weight of breast (g), neck (g), gizzard (g), heart (g), back (g) and fat (g) did not differ among groups. There were significantly different in live weight and weight of carcass (g) among groups. Thigh (g), wing (g), liver (g) were significantly different among groups and sexes (P < 0.05).