• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2003

The suitability of processed cardboard(PC) as litter of broiler house was evaluated by comparing the growth performances of broiler chicks reared on the PC with those of birds reared on conventional rice hull litter(RH) as the control group. A total of 180 male broiler chick (5d old, Ross) were randomly divided into 2 groups and placed into 2 types of litter, PC and RH, with 3 replicates of 30 birds per replicate. Commercial broiler feeds and water were provided ad libitum for 5 weeks. The body weight gains of the birds reared on PC were heavier than those on RH(P<0.05). The average feed conversion rate of chicks reared on PC was appeared to be improved as compared to that of the control. The Enterobacter aerogens counts in PC were significantly rduced than those in the control litter(P<0.05), but a total number of Salmonella and E. coli were not affected by the litter materials. No difference was observed between the average moisture contents of the litters. The average mortality of the chicks reared on PC was significantly lower than that of RH(P<0.05). The results indicate that processed cardboard can substitute other conventional litter materials when the others are in short supply or expensive.