EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE LITTER MATERIALS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS

The study was conducted at university poultryfarm at NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistanto evaluate the overall performance of broiler chicks, reared on three different types of locally qvailable beddingmaterials, including sawdust, sand and wheat straw. The experiment lasted for 35 days. The starter ration wasoffered to the birds for the first three weeks, while during the last two weeks, the birds were reared on the finisherration. Differences in average weight gain, fe ed consumption, FeR, mortality and dressing percentage for sawdust,sand and wheat straw were found non-significant (P O.05). The moisture content increasedfrom 13.07 to 46.55 %in sawdust, 1.75 to 18.89% in sand and 6.81 to 41.48 % in wheat straw during the trial. Sawdust containedsignificantly (P O.05) higher moisture content followed by wheat straw and sand. Mean water absorbing ability,independently determined for sawdust, sand and wheat straw was 246.00, 152.00 and 180.67 %, respectively. Thecost oflitterfor rearing I chick was Rs.2.76, 1.75 and 0.75 for sawdust, sand and wheat straw respectively. (l US $= Rs.60). It was concluded that any ofthese three bedding materials may be used. However, sand (having less cakeformation than wheat straw) is recommended as a safe and economical replacement as litterfor sawdust.