• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 1999

This trial was carried out to compare the effect of fresh sawdust and 2 time used sawdust as a litter for Broiler. Broiler was reared from day old to 49 day. The depth. The depth of litter was 5cm in fresh sawdust and 2.5cm in used sawdust with adding 2.5cm depth of fresh sawdust, respectively. Moisture contents of litter and ammonia gas were not affected by litter treatment. The temperatures of litter were not influenced by the litter treatment; however, They were increased significantly at the age of 5 weeks of broiler reared in used sawdust litter(P<0.05). Weight gain, feed conversion and mortality was not influence between litter types. It is conclude that sawdust of litter material can be recycled saveral times as a broiler litter.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2017

The isolation rate of Escherichia (E.) coli in poultry litter was investigated at 44 broiler farms, 20 that used fresh litter and 24 that used recycled litter. The patterns of resistance to antibiotics of the E. coli isolates were compared. In litter sampled before the rearing period, the isolation rate of E. coli was higher at farms that used fresh litter; E. coli was present in the litter in 94.5% (35 out of 37 flocks tested) of the farms that used fresh litter vs. 51.2% (21 out of 41 flocks) of the farms that used recycled litter. The susceptibility of the 93 isolates of E. coli to 13 antibiotics was studied. Before the rearing period, E. coli isolates from the farms that recycled litter showed higher resistance rates than isolates from farms that replaced litter with fresh litter. Comparing the antibiotic resistance patterns of isolates from litter sampled before and at the end of the rearing period, the antibiotic resistance rates at the end of the rearing period increased dramatically compared with rates before the rearing period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1592-1597
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• 2013

Type of dietary direct-fed microbials (DFMs) or poultry litter could directly influence the composition of gut microbiota. Gut microbiota plays an important role in shaping the developing immune system and maintaining the homeostasis of the mature immune system in mammal and chickens. The present study was carried out to investigate the interaction among litter, DFMs and immunity in broiler chickens exposed to a field-simulated environment. Immune status of broiler chickens was assessed by serum antibodies against Eimeria spp. and Clostridium spp. and intestinal cytokine mRNA expression. The current experimental design had a $3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments with three types of litter, i.e., fresh litter or used litter that was obtained from a farm with no disease outbreak (used litter) or a farm with history of a gangrenous dermatitis outbreak (GD litter), and two dietary treatments with or without DFMs. It was found that either DFM addition or type of litter significantly affected anticoccidial antibody levels of broiler chickens at d 42. In general, dietary DFMs increased the anticoccidial antibodies in the fresh-litter raised chickens, but lowered the levels in the GD-litter raised chickens. Serum antibodies against Clostridium perfringens ${\alpha}$-toxin were significantly (p<0.05) higher in chickens raised on GD litter compared with those raised on fresh litter. Cytokine mRNA expression was significantly (p<0.05) altered by either the type of litter or DFMs. Of interest, dietary DFMs lowered interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin 1beta, and CXCLi2 cytokine mRNA expression in chickens raised on fresh litter but increased them in GD-litter raised chickens. In conclusion, dietary DFMs modulate various immune parameters of broiler chickens, but the DFM-mediated effects were dependent upon the type of litter on which chickens were raised.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1999

This experiment was conducted to determine the influence of litter type on growing performance of broiler and litter characteristics. Sawdust, wood chips and solid part of cattle manure was used as a litter from 7 to 42 days of broiler age. The body weight was significantly (p<.05) higher in manure solid than those of sawdust and wood chips. The litter production was 2,134, 2,246 and 1,785g per bird on the sawdust, the wood chip and the manure solid during 35 days, respectively. Although the initial moisture contents of the litter materials were different 23.5% for sawdust, 16.26% for wood chips and 61.57% for cattle manure solids, the moisture were different 23.5% for sawdust, 16.26% for wood chips and 61.57% for cattle manure solid, the moisture contents became similar after 28 days of the experimental period. The nitrogen content of manure solid was higher than those of sawdust and wood chips. It was concluded that solid part of cattle manure and wood chips were potentially useful source of litter materials for broiler.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1598-1603
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• 2000

Broiler litter can be used as a feedstuff for ruminants. Fifty seven litter samples collected from 47 farms in Kyungkee Province of Korea were analyzed to assess the effects of type and amount of bedding (rice hulls vs. sawdust), season (winter vs. summer) and drinkers (bell- vs. trough-type) on composition of broiler litter. Rearing conditions of broilers were also surveyed from the farms to estimate annual production rate of litter. Nutrient composition of broiler litter varied widely and moisture and ash concentrations were higher than observed by other researchers. Ash concentration was higher (p<0.05) for samples taken in winter than in summer and higher (p<0.05) in the rice hulls- than in the sawdust-based litter both in winter and summer. Only minor differences in litter composition were noted between drinkers. Ash was negatively correlated with crude protein and neutral detergent fiber (p<0.01), and acid detergent fiber (p<0.05). The estimated litter production rate was 2.7 kg per bird per flock on a wet basis (60% DM) and the annual production rate was 12.7 kg per bird per yr (60% DM). Therefore, the 42 million broilers per month grown in Korea in 1999 produced a total of 533,400 metric tons of litter.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: The most common litter materials used in South Korea are sawdust, rice husk, etc. Recently, the cost of litter has been steadily rising, and the maturity test has been strengthened. For this reason, new litter materials are needed for better water control ability to solve the problems. The object of this study was to evaluate the water absorption properties for litter materials. METHODS AND RESULTS: The volumetric water capacity according to the addition of cow manure was investigated to calculate the water absorption speed of litter materials (sawdust, peatmoss, cocopeat, and biochar). The water absorption speed constant (-K) in the first stage was high in the order of cocopeat (0.1190), sawdust (0.0961), biochar (0.0762), and peatmoss (0.0523). The optimal period of the litter use was in the following order: peatmoss (48d), biochar (42d), sawdust (30d), and cocopeat (24d). The water absorption rate (%) of the used litters was high in the order of biochar ≈ cocopeat, sawdust, and peatmoss, which was significantly correlated with the water absorption speed of the first stage. CONCLUSION(S): Considering the water absorption speed and water absorption rate, biochar and peatmoss were found to be the best and optimal litter materials among the tested materials. These litter materials can be used as water control agents in livestock facilities.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.555-557
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• 2003

A total of 168 seven days-old Arbor Acres chicks were reared in late-autumn on 4 types of litters; sawdust, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse or wheat straw up to 49 days of age to compare the growth performance, evaluate the manureal value and Coccidial oocyst population in used litter. Sadust, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw did not differ statistically for live weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and survivability (p>0.05). However, live weight and survivability tended to increase on sawdust. The highest moisture content of used litter was found in sugarcane bagasse followed by sawdust, rice husk and wheat straw (p<0.05). Rice husk contained the highest amount of of nitrogen, phosphurus and potassium followed by sawdust, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw (p<0.01). Oocyst content of all treatment groups increased suddenly up to 5 weeks of age and thereafter suddenly declined up to 7 weeks of age. Litter materials did not differ at 35 and 42 days of age for oocyst content, but significantly differed at 49 days of age (p<0.01). So, the above findings reveal that sawdust may be suitable litter followed by rice husk, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw in late-autumn in Bangladesh in respect of broiler growth performance.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 1994

Litter production and decomposition were investigated for 2 years in the oak, Quercus acutissima, and the pitch pine, Pinus rigida, stands in the vicinity of Kongju, Chungnam Province. Litter production was measured with litter trap at monthly basis. Litterbag method was used for the measurement of litter decomposition. Litter producion continued throughout the year, but showed a peak in autumn. Second peak in May or June was caused by falling of bud scales and reproductive organs. Average litter production in the oak and the pitch pine stands were $567.1g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}\;and\;653.2g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, respectively. Litter production in this study area were higher than those in other reports. Nutrient concentrations in litter were the highest in summer when the least litter production occurred, and the lowest in autumn when the greatest litter production occurred, except for calcium in the oak stand. Nutrient concentrations of the oak litter were higher than those in the pitch pine litter. After 1 year, % remaining mass of oak and pitch pine litter was 43.6% and 58%, respectively. After 21 months elapsed, % remaining mass of oak and pitch pine litter was 22.2% and 33.2%, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.450-454
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• 1998

Four groups each containing 48 seven-day-old broiler chicks were reared for 7 weeks during winter on rice husk litter spread to depths of 20, 30, 40 or 50 mm. Broiler performance was evaluated in terms of weight gain, feed consumption, feed efficiency and production number. Litter dampness was determined and coccidial oocyst populations were counted at different weeks of age. The depth of litter did not significantly affect live weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, liveability or production number. Variation in moisture contents of litter was observed but the coccidial oocysts count per gramme of litter was within the safety level and therefore, there was no outbreak of coccidiosis in any group. Use of rice husk litter at different depths (20 to 50 mm) did not cause any breast blisters or leg abnormalities. It was concluded that rice husk can be used as litter at depths of between 20 and 50 mm during winter to raise broilers without affecting performance characteristics and health of birds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.543-555
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• 2010

The objectives of this research were the estimation of genetic parameters and trends for weaning-to-first service interval (WSI), and litter traits in a commercial swine population composed of Landrace (L), Large White (T), LT, and TL animals in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. The dataset contained 4,399 records of WSI, number of piglets born alive (NBA), litter weight of live piglets at birth (LBW), number of piglets at weaning (NPW), and litter weight at weaning (LWW). Variance and covariance components were estimated with REML using 2-trait analyses. An animal model was used for WSI and a sire-dam model for litter traits. Fixed effects were farrowing year-season, breed group of sow, breed group of boar (litter traits), parity, heterosis (litter traits), sow age, and lactation length (NPW and LWW). Random effects were boar (litter traits), sow, permanent environment, and residual. Heritabilities for direct genetic effects were low for WSI (0.04${\pm}$0.02) and litter traits (0.05${\pm}$0.02 to 0.06${\pm}$0.02). Most heritabilities for maternal litter trait effects were 20% to 50% lower than their direct counterparts. Repeatability for WSI was similar to its heritability. Repeatabilities for litter traits ranged from 0.15${\pm}$0.02 to 0.18${\pm}$F0.02. Direct genetic, permanent environment, and phenotypic correlations between WSI and litter traits were near zero. Direct genetic correlations among litter traits ranged from 0.56${\pm}$0.20 to 0.95${\pm}$0.05, except for near zero estimates between NBA and LWW, and LBW and LWW. Maternal, permanent environment, and phenotypic correlations among litter traits had similar patterns of values to direct genetic correlations. Boar genetic trends were small and significant only for NBA (-0.015${\pm}$0.005 piglets/yr, p<0.004). Sow genetic trends were small, negative, and significant (-0.036${\pm}$0.013 d/yr, p<0.01 for WSI; -0.017${\pm}$0.005 piglets/yr, p<0.007, for NBA; -0.015${\pm}$0.005 kg/yr, p<0.01, for LBW; -0.019${\pm}$0.008 piglets/yr, p<0.02, for NPW; and -0.022${\pm}$0.006 kg/yr, p<0.003, for LWW). Permanent environmental correlations were small, negative, and significant only for WSI (-0.028${\pm}$0.011 d/yr, p<0.02). Environmental trends were positive and significant only for litter traits (p<0.01 to p<0.0003). Selection based on predicted genetic values rather than phenotypes could be advantageous in this population. A single trait analysis could be used for WSI and a multiple trait analysis could be implemented for litter traits.