Effect of Type of Housing and Litter on Production of Broilers

RECENTLY there has been considerable interest in the use of windowless-type houses for the production of broilers in the South. It is generally agreed that houses of this type which are fan-ventilated tend to be superior to conventional houses with respect to growth, feed conversion, mortality and condemnation of broilers to market age (Chalaupka et al., 1967; Stevens, 1967; Griffin et al., 1968; and McCartney et al., 1969). Ross (1968) has shown that mortality of chicks reared on fresh litter was slightly lower than for those reared on reused litter. On the other hand, Reed and McCartney (1970) found no difference in mortality of broilers reared on reused or new litter. Condemnations at the processing plant from leukosis were found to be lower for chicks reared on reused litter (Chalaupka et al., 1968). Although Witter et al., (1967) suggested that litter and droppings contaminated with Marek’s disease agent could be…