Research Article

 

Influence of Housing Floor on Air Quality, Growth Traits, and Immunity in Broiler Chicken Farms

 

Essam S. Soliman1*, Rania A. Hassan2

1Animal, Poultry and Environmental Hygiene Division, Department of Animal Hygiene, Zoonosis and Animal Behavior, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; 2Animal Production Division, Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.

 

Received | April 21, 2020; Accepted | June 21, 2020; Published | August 04, 2020

*Correspondence | Essam S Soliman, Animal, Poultry and Environmental Hygiene Division, Department of Animal Hygiene, Zoonosis and Animal Behavior, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; Email: soliman.essam@vet.suez.edu.eg

Citation | Soliman ES, Hassan RA (2020). Influence of housing floor on air quality, growth traits, and immunity in broiler chicken farms. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 8(9): 997-1008.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2020/8.9.997.1008

ISSN (Online) | 2307-8316; ISSN (Print) | 2309-3331

Copyright © 2020 Soliman and Hassan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The poultry industry as one of the main sources of animal protein and white meat in Egypt and worldwide faced a lot of obstacles, including the choice of the perfect housing floor system. Choosing floor system for raising broiler chickens relies on some factors such as; availability, economic cost, absorption capacity, maintenance and sustainability, possibilities of re-use, ease of handling, environmental concern, and influence on performance and carcass yield (Garcia et al., 2012).

 

Over many years raising broiler chickens worldwide and in Egypt was depending on the deep litter system using a variety of litter types (Aviagen, 2016). Deep litter material like paper, sawdust, rice husks, wheat straw, and wood-shaving when used can be comfortable or barring enemy characteristics for broiler chickens. Using a deep litter system in raising broilers is dependent on many management factors to control litter moisture percent and pH as well as to control ammonia levels inside poultry farms (De Jong and Gunnink, 2014). If these managemental factors were not optimized and maintained, diseases risk like respiratory diseases and dermatitis can be increased (Sohirat Torfy et al., 2017; Petek et al., 2014). The degree of dryness of the bedding material in deep litter systems depends on many factors like stocking density, watering system, type of bedding material, indoor temperature, relative humidity, and degree of thermal insulation (Petek et al., 2015; Jacob et al., 2016).

 

Alternative methods for deep litter housing systems have been used for raising broiler chickens, including cages and slat. These methods have been widely used in the last twenty years over a large number of countries (Bilal et al., 2014). Battery and slatted floor systems had proven a lot of efficiency over the years in poultry raising and gained a lot of advantages like avoidance of litter problems, enhanced working conditions, ease of combating and eradication of infectious and contagious diseases. Later, the battery system was criticized from some points including the captivity of birds and their lack of natural behaviors, as well as, the development of some leg lesions (Ȍzhan et al., 2016; Abreu et al., 2011), that is why slatted floor system gained more acceptance in raising broiler chicken compared to the battery system.

 

The current study was aiming to conduct a comparison between the different floor types (wood shaving, rice husks, wheat straw, slats, and cages) can be used locally in Egypt. The study included an analysis for the influence of these different floor systems on some parameters as; the indoor air gases (carbon dioxide and ammonia), air microbial load, growth traits, carcass weights, some immune and edible organs’ weights, antioxidant levels (total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes) and stress markers (cortisol hormone), immunity levels (immunoglobulin G and M concentrations), and intestinal microbiota (total bacterial and Enterobacteriaceae counts).

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

Experimental Birds Microclimate and Housing Floors

A total of 200 one-day-old female classic Hubbard chicks were purchased from El-Helal Company. Birds were divided on their arrival into five separate rooms (five groups each 40 birds, with 4 replicates of ten birds). The rooms were supported with some protective measures to maintain an optimum biosecurity level as recommended by Soliman and Abdallah, (2020). These measures represented in restricted access to the rooms, foot dip at the entrance, restricted access to feed storage, fly and rodent-proof nets, prevent the attraction of wild birds, proper traffic control inside the rooms, and proper sanitation and disinfection program. The five rooms were supplied with different housing floors; the 1st room was supplied with wood shaving litter, the 2nd was supplied with rice husks litter, the 3rd room was supplied with wheat straw litter, the 4th room was supplied with plastic slats, and the 5th room was supplied with horizontal cages. The floor of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rooms was treated previously before the application of different litter types and broiler’s arrival with superphosphate 0.5 g.m-2 as recommended by Soliman et al. (2018) to prevent litter dampness, reduce moisture percent, reduce microbial activity, and minimize ammonia volatilization inside the rooms. The ventilation system in the five rooms was negative pressure cross-ventilation depending on suction fans on one sidewall and V-shaped outlet windows on the other sidewall. Broilers in the five rooms were supplied with a continuous lighting regimen for 23 hours of lighting and one hour of darkness using blue LED lights as recommended by Soliman and Hassan, (2019).

 

Broilers were brooded on their arrival to the five rooms at a microclimatic temperature of 34°C, optimized using oil and halogen heaters. Latter, the microclimatic temperature was manipulated by increasing the ventilation rates and lowering the heating hours to achieve a gradual decline of the temperature at a rate of 3.5°C weekly until achieving a stable 25°C by the end of the 3rd week. Broilers were given permanent ad libitum access to water and corn-soybean basal ration to meet their basic nutritional requirements as recommended by National Research Council (NRC) (1994) as well as, Applegate and Angel, (2014) modifications. The ration constituted 23% protein, 5.6% fat, 3.80% crude fiber, and 2900kcal/kg energy in the starter ration provided for the first fourteen days, and 21% protein, 2.8% fat, 3.39% crude fiber, and 3100kcal/kg energy in the grower ration provided for the remaining period of the fattening cycle (25 days). Mortality rates, indoor and outdoor minimum, and maximum temperature and relative humidity were monitored and recorded daily during the experiment designed to last for 39 days. Broilers were subjected to an act of mass vaccination using de-chlorinated drinking water against infectious bronchitis using live attenuated virus vaccine (PESTIKAL B1 SPF H120 ≥ 103.5) at 7th day; infectious bursal disease using live attenuated virus vaccine (SER-VAC D78 Strain VMG91 ≥ 103.0) at 14th and 21st days, and Newcastle virus disease using live lentogenic virus vaccine (PESTIKAL Lasota ≥ 106.0) at 16th and 26th days.

 

Performance Indices

Average live body weights (LBW/g) were estimated weekly by weighing a representative number of birds (approximately 36 birds) in each group. The number of weighed birds was calculated using simple random sampling design according to Thrusfield (2005) with an expected error 5% using the following formula:

 

n =1.962 Pexp (1 - Pexp) / d2

Where n = required sample size, Pexp = expected prevalence, d = desired absolute precision. Feed intakes (FI/g) were calculated by diving the total amount of ration consumed in each room by the total number of viable birds in the room. Bodyweight gains (WG/g), feed conversion ratios (FCR %), and performance indices (PI) were calculated as recommended by Soliman and Hassan, (2017).

 

Sampling

A total of 3705 samples including 525 air samples (three sample daily in each room for five weeks), 2100 environmental swabs (floors, walls, feeders, and waterers, they were collected by a rate of 3 swabs daily per type in each room for five weeks), 180 sera, 180 duodenal swabs, and 720 organs (180 each) like liver, spleen, heart, and bursa of Fabricius were collected by the end of the experiment. Air samples were collected using air canister for passive sampling of air and were later passed on 9 ml buffered peptone water in the laboratory for further analysis (chemical and bacteriological). Environmental and non-environmental swabs were collected on 9 ml buffered peptone water and transferred to the laboratory in a dry ice box within 2-3 hours to be examined.

 

A total of 180 birds (36 birds from each room) were sacrificed by the end of the experiment to collect blood samples, birds were de-feathered, weighed, and expressed by grams (carcass weight; CW/g). Edible and immune organs like liver, spleen, heart, and bursa of Fabricius were collected, weighed, and expressed per grams. Sacrificed birds were hygienically disposed of after sampling using a burial method with the lining of the burial bits with lime. Blood samples after collection were kept in a water bath at 25°C for 30 minutes and centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 20 minutes. None hemolyzed sera were collected in Eppendorf tubes and stored at -20 °C until tested for cortisol level, antioxidant markers, and immunological assay (Soliman et al., 2017).

 

Indoor Air Quality

Air samples (three samples daily in each room for five weeks) were examined for the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3) using potentiometric titration against oxalic acid and ammonium hydroxide respectively as recommended by APHA (2017). The calculated results were compared and confirmed by the readings obtained from inside the experimental rooms during the fattening cycle using digital carbon dioxide meter (e Top 77535 Digital 3-in-1 CO2 0- 9999 ppm, Temperature DP WB RH Humidity IAQ Air Quality Meter Tester Monitor Carbon) and ammonia meter (Digital Portable NH3 Meter Ammonia Gas Detector 0: 100 ppm).

 

Antioxidant and Stress Markers

Sera samples (180 samples collected via sacrificing 36 birds from each room) were examined for antioxidant markers like total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) calorimetrically using ROCHE COBAS Integra 800 chemical analyzer. Cortisol hormone as well as, immunoglobulin IgG and IgM concentrations were measured by using ROCHE Elecsys 1010 Immunoassay Analyzer (Wu et al., 2017).

 

Bacteriological Examination

Air samples (525 samples), environmental swabs (floors, walls, feeders, and waterers, 2100 samples), and non-environmental swabs (180 duodenal swabs) collected on 9 ml buffered peptone water were prepared as recommended by APHA (2012). Tenfold serial dilutions up to 10-10 were prepared.

 

Total bacterial (TBC) and total Enterobacteriaceae counts (TEC) were carried out using a drop plate as recommended by Soliman et al., (2016) and Kim and Lee, (2016). Total bacterial counts were performed onto standard plate count agar (PCA, LAB-M, LAB149; 500g) at 37ºC for 24 - 48 h. Meanwhile, TEC was conducted using Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMB, LAB-M, LAB061; 500g ) at 37ºC for 24 - 48 h. Plates were counted using the Dark-field colony counter ((R164109 Reichert-Jung Quebec Darkfield 3325 Colony Counter) (Murray et al., 2015).

 

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was carried out using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 20.0, 2016). The raw data were analyzed statistically using multifactorial Analysis of Variance (Two-Way ANOVA) to determine the overall influence of the housing floors and broiler’s age and their interactions. The statistical model empathized as follow:

 

Yijk = µ + αi + βj + (αβ)ij + Ɛijk

 

Where Yijk was the measurement of dependent variables; µ was overall mean; αi was the fixed effect of the floor systems, βj was the fixed effect of broiler’s age, (αβ)ij was the interactions of housing floor systems by broiler’s age, and Ɛijk was the random error. Total bacterial and Enterobacteriaceae counts of environmental and non-environmental samples were transformed and expressed as logarithms

 

Table 1: Microclimatic indoor gas levels (Mean ± SE) inside broiler rooms of different housing floor systems.

 

Floor system	Age /weeks	CO2 /ppm	NH3 /ppm
Overall means among different floor systems
Wood shaving		14710a±10.62	26.2a±0.03
Rice husks		14190b±11.66	19.4b±0.01
Wheat straw		13030c±18.47	16.1c±0.12
Slats		2640d±11.89	4.1e±0.01
Battery		2170e±7.56	4.9d±0.03
P value		0.000	0.001
Overall means among different broiler ages
1st week		5110e±16.25	9.8e±0.02
2nd week		6950d±13.44	11.1d±0.03
3rd week		9880c±23.15	13.9c±0.04
4th week		12070b±18.95	16.4b±0.01
5th week		12730a±17.55	19.5a±0.01
P value		0.001	0.000
Floor systems versus broiler age interactions
Wood shaving	1st week	7900e±44.94	19.2e±0.13
	2nd week	11100d±45.29	21.1d±0.28
	3rd week	15900c±20.16	26.3c±0.18
	4th week	19200b±15.27	29.8b±0.13
	5th week	19450a±9.75	34.6a±0.13
Rice husks	1st week	8050e±47.04	13.6e±0.26
	2nd week	10400d±25.60	15.6d±0.16
	3rd week	14350c±35.78	19.2c±0.11
	4th week	18550b±36.09	22.2b±0.13
	5th week	19600a±22.11	26.4a±0.22
Wheat straw	1st week	6900e±14.52	10.4e±0.17
	2nd week	9300d±26.35	12.6d±0.29
	3rd week	12900c±39.29	16.1c±0.22
	4th week	17400b±20.81	18.9b±0.30
	5th week	18650a±45.36	22.7a±0.37
Slats	1st week	1550e±13.84	3.6d±0.01
	2nd week	2150d±17.37	3.3e±0.06
	3rd week	3250b±11.18	3.9c±0.05
	4th week	2900c±16.66	4.3b±0.09
	5th week	3350a±16.37	5.3a±0.08
Battery	1st week	1150e±10.69	2.3e±0.01
	2nd week	1800d±18.64	3.2d±0.03
	3rd week	3000a±12.90	4.1c±0.09
	4th week	2300c±18.64	6.6b±0.02
	5th week	2600b±16.67	8.4a±0.06
P value		0.000	0.000

Means carrying different superscripts in the same column are significantly different at (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significantly different at (P < 0.01). Means carrying the same superscripts in the same column are non-significantly different at (P < 0.05).

CO2=Carbon dioxide, NH3=Ammonia, SE=Standard error.

 

using Microsoft Excel 2016. The results were expressed as highly significant at (p ≤ 0.01), significant at (p ≤ 0.05), and non-significant at (p > 0.05).

 

RESULTS

 

Microclimatic Gases Levels

Indoor air gases in Table 1 reflected synchronized highly significant declines (P < 0.01) to normal thresholds of the microclimatic levels of both CO2 and NH3 gases of rooms in which broilers were raised in the battery system and on slatted floor, respectively, rather than deep litters based on wood shaving, rice husks, and wheat straw. From a normal perspective, the microclimatic levels of CO2 and NH3 were increasing as broiler chickens grow and get older.

 

Growth Traits

Bodyweight gains (WG) and performance indices (PI), as recorded in Table 2 revealed highly significant increases (P < 0.01) in broilers raised on the battery and slatted floor with no significant differences between the battery and slatted floor systems in WG values. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) reflected highly significant declines (P < 0.01) in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor with no significant differences between each other. Feed intakes (FI) revealed highly significant increases (P < 0.01) in broilers raised on the slatted floor and highly significant declines (P < 0.01) in broilers raised in the battery system. Meanwhile, water intake- WI (Table 1) revealed no significant differences between all the floor systems used in the experiment.

 

The overall means of growth traits among different broiler ages (Table 2) revealed highly significant increases (P < 0.01) of WG (g) during the 4th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, and 1st weeks, respectively, highly significant declines (P < 0.01) of FCR (%) during the 1st, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 5th weeks, respectively, highly significant increases (P < 0.01) of PI during the 4th, 5th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st weeks, respectively, highly significant increases (P < 0.01) of FI and WI during the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st weeks, respectively, and highly significant increases (P < 0.01) of WI/FI ratios during the 5th, 4th, 1st, 3rd, and 2nd weeks, respectively.

 

Live Weight and Carcass Quality

Live body weights revealed highly significant increases (P < 0.01), as recorded in Table 3, in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor compared to deep litters with no significant differences in the live body weights between broilers raised on rice husks and wood-shaving floor systems. Carcass weights revealed highly significant increases (P < 0.01) in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor compared to deep litters with no significant differences in the carcass weights between broilers raised on rice husks and wheat straw floor systems (Table 3).

 

Liver weights revealed highly significant increases (P < 0.01), in Table 3, in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor compared to deep litters with no significant differences in the liver weights between broilers raised on wheat straw and wood-shaving floor systems. While, spleen; heart and bursa of Fabricius revealed highly significant increases (P < 0.01) in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor compared to deep litters with no significant differences in the spleen; heart and bursa of Fabricius between broilers raised on all deep litter systems (Table 3).

 

Stress and Antioxidant Markers

Serum cortisol concentrations revealed highly significant declines (p<0.01), as recorded in Table 4, in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor compared to deep litters with no significant differences in the cortisol levels between broilers raised in the battery system and on slatted floor.

 

Malondialdehyde revealed in Table 4, highly significant declines (P < 0.01) in broilers raised in the battery system, on slatted, and wheat straw floors compared to rice husks and wood-shaving litter system. Meanwhile, total antioxidant capacity, lactate dehydrogenase enzyme, and superoxide dismutase recorded highly significant declines (P < 0.01) in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor compared to deep litters (Table 4).

 

Immunoglobulin Concentrations and Microbial Loads

Highly significant increases (P < 0.01) were recorded (Table 5) in serum concentrations of total immunoglobulin IgG and IgM in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor compared to the other tested floor systems.

 

Highly significant declines (P < 0.01) in Table 6 were recorded in total bacterial counts of intestinal (duodenal) swabs in broilers raised in battery and on slatted floors with no significant differences in total bacterial counts of intestinal (duodenal) swabs between slatted and rice husks floors, in total bacterial counts of floor in battery and on slatted floors with no significant differences in total bacterial counts of slats and wheat straw, in total bacterial counts of wall swabs in battery and on slatted floors, in total bacterial counts of feeder swabs in battery and on slatted floors with no significant differences in total bacterial counts of wheat straw and wood-shaving, in total bacterial counts of waterer swabs in battery and on slatted floors with no significant differences in total bacterial counts of wood

 

Table 2: Performance traits (Mean ± SE) of broilers raised on different housing floor systems.

 

Floor system	Age /week	BWG / g	FCR / %	PI	FI / g	WI/ ml		WI/FI %
Overall means among different floor systems
Wood shaving		311.6c±1.23	1.35c±0.01	5.91d±0.02	443.8d±1.31	846a±1.83	1.68a±0.01
Rice husks		320.2c±3.13	1.64a±0.01	5.55e±0.05	498.0b±2.10	838a±1.22	1.63a±0.02
Wheat straw		351.5b±2.11	1.48b±0.02	6.55c±0.12	496.9b±2.52	841a±2.11	1.62a±0.01
Slats		401.9a±1.09	1.29d±0.01	7.98b±0.09	509.2a±1.15	869a±1.54	1.62a±0.03
Battery		408.5a±2.18	1.13d±0.01	8.50a±0.07	486.6c±1.56	828a±1.33	1.64a±0.03
P value		0.000	0.000	0.000	0.008	0.589	0.667
Overall means among different broiler ages
1st week		100.6e±1.12	1.11d±0.01	1.43e±0.12	107.4e±1.55	188e±1.33		1.75b±0.02
2nd week		221.8d±1.22	1.56b±0.02	2.41d±0.08	345.8d±1.74	381d±1.38		1.11d±0.00
3rd week		462.3b±1.13	1.20c±0.02	7.23c±0.03	551.2c±2.11	651c±2.53		1.21c±0.01
4th week		599.3a±1.15	1.11d±0.03	13.65a±0.01	637.1b±1.87	1145b±1.42		1.80b±0.02
5th week		409.6c±2.11	2.09a±0.01	9.77b±0.02	792.8a±2.13	1857a±1.22		2.34a±0.02
P value		0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000		0.001
Floor systems versus broiler age interactions
Wood shaving	1st	121.9e±1.02	0.87d±0.01	1.95d±0.03	106.2e±0.79	126e±1.04		1.19e±0.01
	2nd	213.2d±2.44	1.29c±0.01	2.95c±0.04	276.6d±0.43	349d±2.36		1.26d±0.08
	3rd	449.7a±2.04	0.95d±0.05	9.15a±0.07	429.2c±2.49	651c±2.97		1.58c±0.12
	4th	384.6c±2.48	1.61b±0.02	7.55b±0.09	620.1b±5.23	1297b±2.66		2.09b±0.05
	5th	388.8b±1.50	2.02a±0.00	7.93b±0.03	786.7a±1.29	1806a±3.49		2.29a±0.01
Rice husks	1st	98.1e±1.05	1.08d±0.00	1.37d±0.01	106.3e±0.46	210e±1.37		1.97b±0.01
	2nd	228.3d±1.94	1.58b±0.01	2.38c±0.03	361.4d±0.30	387d±1.96		1.07d±0.01
	3rd	411.8b±2.31	1.38c±0.01	5.70b±0.04	570.2c±1.78	640c±1.58		1.12d±0.01
	4th	605.4a±2.86	1.07d±0.01	12.98a±0.07	650.3b±2.13	1125b±1.03		1.73c±0.15
	5th	257.5c±2.17	3.11a±0.02	5.30b±0.05	801.7a±0.71	1830a±5.72		2.28a±0.01
Wheat straw	1st	107.4e±1.83	1.01d±0.01	1.54d±0.04	108.8e±0.68	197e±2.02		1.81b±0.01
	2nd	199.0d±3.08	1.81b±0.02	1.95d±0.03	361.0d±0.42	389d±2.07		1.08d±0.02
	3rd	425.5b±1.53	1.42c±0.01	5.49c±0.02	604.6c±0.71	679c±3.21		1.12d±0.01
	4th	681.7a±1.66	0.92d±0.00	15.77a±0.07	631.8b±3.16	1075b±4.65		1.70c±0.14
	5th	344.0c±2.33	2.26a±0.01	7.98b±0.05	778.2a±0.86	1864a±1.28		2.39a±0.01
Slats	1st	106.7e±2.18	1.01c±0.02	1.51e±0.05	107.5e±0.34	195e±2.72		1.82b±0.02
	2nd	229.5d±3.31	1.62a±0.02	2.34d±0.03	372.3d±0.59	412d±5.51		1.10c±0.01
	3rd	467.9c±1.56	1.25b±0.01	6.76c±0.04	587.2c±2.92	632c±4.64		1.07c±0.01
	4th	714.4a±1.93	0.91d±0.00	17.07a±0.07	654.0b±1.10	1173b±1.07		1.79b±0.16
	5th	491.3b±3.96	1.68a±0.01	12.23b±0.11	824.9a±1.05	1934a±1.19		2.34a±0.01
Battery	1st	69.1e±3.69	1.60a±0.08	0.76e±0.06	108.4e±0.37	211e±5.54		1.94b±0.04
	2nd	239.4d±1.34	1.51a±0.06	2.42d±0.15	357.9d±4.68	367d±5.25		1.02e±0.01
	3rd	556.7c±1.50	1.02c±0.03	9.07c±0.42	564.6c±1.52	652c±2.66		1.15d±0.00
	4th	610.8a±1.77	1.03c±0.03	14.85b±0.58	629.5b±2.20	1057b±4.91		1.68c±0.15
	5th	566.7b±2.12	1.37b±0.04	15.41a±0.77	772.5a±1.33	1853a±2.75		2.39a±0.01
P value		0.000	0.002	0.009	0.002	0.025		0.001

Means carrying different superscripts in the same column are significantly different at (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significantly different at (P < 0.01). Means carrying the same superscripts in the same column are non-significantly different at (P < 0.05).

BWG=Weight Gain, FI=Feed Intake, FCR=Feed Conversion Ratio, and PI=Performance Index, WI=Water intake, WI/FI=Water to feed intake ratio, SE=Standard error.

 

Table 3: Live and carcass quality characteristics (Mean ± SE) of broilers raised on different housing floor systems.

 

Floor system	LBW / g	CW / g	Edible and immune organs weight
			Liver /g	Spleen / g	Heart / g	Bursa / g
Overall means among different floor systems
Wood shaving	1646.5d±3.88	1239.8c±6.73	42.1c±0.91	1.64c±0.03	9.52c±0.18	1.02c±0.01
Rice husks	1660.3d±2.17	1207.4d±5.87	39.6d±0.24	1.64c±0.02	9.22c±0.17	1.00c±0.01
Wheat straw	1762.8c±3.23	1210.0d±3.72	43.7c±0.48	1.69c±0.04	9.66c±0.17	1.06c±0.02
Slats	2111.4b±5.28	1840.1b±3.23	55.6b±0.26	3.47b±0.05	15.93b±0.18	1.48b±0.03
Battery	2207.0a±4.13	1874.8a±5.72	59.6a±0.35	3.67a±0.05	19.84a±0.19	1.59a±0.03
P value	0.000	0.001	0.000	0.001	0.000	0.000

Means carrying different superscripts in the same column are significantly different at (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significantly different at (P < 0.01). Means carrying the same superscripts in the same column are non-significantly different at (P < 0.05).

LBW=Live body weight, CW=Carcass weight, SE=Standard error.

 

Table 4: Stress and antioxidant markers (Mean ± SE) of broilers raised on different housing floor systems.

 

Floor system	Cort mcg.dl-1	TAC mM.L-1	LDH IU.L-1	MDA nmol.ml-1	SOD U.ml-1
Overall means among different floor systems
Wood shaving	25.4a±0.03	2.32a±0.00	374.6a±2.40	37.1a±0.25	310.6a±2.95
Rice husks	20.9b±0.02	2.21b±0.00	341.0b±0.89	40.4a±0.26	288.9b±0.54
Wheat straw	16.1c±0.02	1.83c±0.01	282.1c±0.89	23.6b±0.14	226.9c±1.27
Slats	5.6d±0.03	0.99d±0.01	240.9d±0.91	20.2b±0.16	197.7d±0.63
Battery	5.2d±0.02	0.59e±0.01	205.3e±0.88	15.9b±0.33	150.6e±0.89
P value	0.000	0.001	0.000	0.007	0.000

Means carrying different superscripts in the same column are significantly different at (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significantly different at (P < 0.01). Means carrying the same superscripts in the same column are non-significantly different at (P < 0.05).

Cort=Cortisol hormone, TAC=Total antioxidant capacity, LDH=Lactate dehydrogenase, MDA=Malondialdehyde, SOD=Superoxide dismutase, SE=Standard error.

 

Table 5: Immunoglobulin concentrations (Mean ± SE) of broilers raised on different housing floor systems.

 

Floor system	IgG mg.dl-1	IgM mg.dl-1
Overall means among different floor systems
Wood shaving	1351.2e±2.39	360.0e±0.98
Rice husks	1423.2d±1.61	389.1d±1.09
Wheat straw	1587.0c±1.58	461.6c±1.64
Slats	1674.3b±2.68	532.3b±1.47
Battery	1863.0a±2.28	582.1a±1.42
P value	0.000	0.001

Means carrying different superscripts in the same column are significantly different at (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significantly different at (P < 0.01). Means carrying the same superscripts in the same column are non-significantly different at (P < 0.05).

IgG=Immunoglobulin G, IgM=Immunoglobulin M, SE=Standard error.

 

shaving and rice husks, and in total bacterial counts of air samples in battery and on slatted floors with no significant differences in total bacterial counts of the two systems.

 

Highly significant declines (P < 0.01) were recorded as shown in Table 7 in total Enterobacteriaceae counts of intestinal (duodenal); floor swabs; waterers swabs and air samples in broilers raised in battery and on slatted floors, in total Enterobacteriaceae counts of wall swabs in battery and on slatted floors with no significant differences in total Enterobacteriaceae counts between wheat straw and rice husks, and total Enterobacteriaceae counts of feeder swabs in battery and on slatted floors with no significant differences in total Enterobacteriaceae counts between deep litter systems.

 

Table 6: Total bacterial counts of environmental and non-environmental samples (Mean CFU/ml± SE) collected from broiler rooms of different housing floor systems.

 

Floor system	Intestinal swabs	Environmental swabs				Air
		Floor	Wall	Feeders	Waterer
Overall means among different floor systems
Wood shaving	4.58b±0.02	5.25a±0.00	5.05a±0.00	4.90a±0.01	4.89a±0.02	3.73a±0.00
Rice husks	4.40c±0.01	4.96b±0.00	4.93b±0.01	4.42b±0.01	4.96a±0.00	3.10b±0.01
Wheat straw	5.06a±0.09	4.79c±0.02	4.71c±0.05	4.89a±0.10	3.81d±0.05	2.72c±0.03
Slats	4.35c±0.01	4.81c±0.01	4.52d±0.01	4.19c±0.01	4.35b±0.01	2.11d±0.01
Battery	4.22e±0.01	4.14d±0.01	4.21e±0.01	3.92d±0.01	4.13c±0.01	2.11d±0.01
P value	0.002	0.001	0.000	0.002	0.001	0.002

Means carrying different superscripts in the same column are significantly different at (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significantly different at (P < 0.01). Means carrying the same superscripts in the same column are non-significantly different at (P < 0.05).

CFU=Colony forming unit, SE=Standard error.

 

Table 7: Total Enterobacteriaceae counts of environmental and non-environmental samples (Mean CFU/ml± SE) collected from broiler rooms of different housing floor systems.

 

Floor system	Intestinal swabs	Environmental swabs				Air
		Floor	Wall	Feeders	Waterer
Overall means among different floor systems
Wood shaving	3.42a±0.02	3.74a±0.02	3.34a±0.02	3.19a±0.02	3.20a±0.02	2.72a±0.02
Rice husks	3.11b±0.02	3.05b±0.02	3.08b±0.02	3.19a±0.02	3.11b±0.02	2.42b±0.02
Wheat straw	2.77c±0.02	2.75c±0.06	3.01b±0.05	3.25a±0.04	2.98c±0.02	2.08c±0.02
Slats	2.26d±0.03	2.27d±0.02	2.18c±0.02	2.16b±0.02	2.30d±0.02	1.55d±0.03
Battery	2.15e±0.02	1.80e±0.01	1.97d±0.00	1.75c±0.01	1.65e±0.02	1.45e±0.02
P value	0.000	0.000	0.001	0.002	0.000	0.000

Means carrying different superscripts in the same column are significantly different at (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significantly different at (P < 0.01). Means carrying the same superscripts in the same column are non-significantly different at (P < 0.05).

CFU=Colony forming unit, SE=Standard error.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Feeding regimens and housing system represented the most important factors that control commercial poultry production. Poultry industry worldwide relayed for centuries mainly on deep litter housing systems, as litter usually provided broilers with more comfortable conditions and influence the financial outcomes. Good litter materials should maintain indoor temperature, absorb extra moisture, help to minimize the volatilization of ammonia gas into microclimatic air, and resist the multiplication of many pathogenic microorganisms. Litter witnessed the usage of many materials like rice husk and wheat straw as experimented by Sreehari and Sharma, (2010), soybean straw as recommended by De Avila et al. (2008), gypsum that was tested and recommended by Grimes et al. (2006), and sand as reported by Shields et al. (2005).

 

The current results recorded that the usage of wood shaving, rice husks, and wheat straw litters compared to slats and cage systems contributed to higher levels of carbon dioxide and ammonia gases in the microclimatic air developing some conditions that might contribute to the development of many diseases. The results were consistent to those reported by Lin et al. (2017), Pereira et al. (2017) and Naseem and King, (2018) who agreed that litter material undergoes decomposition and fermentation under the influence of many factors like litter management factors, microclimatic temperature, humidity, and ventilation rate contributed to increases in the concentration of carbon dioxide, ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane. The finding of the present study were consistent with those reported by Jugowar et al. (2017). They recorded an increase in the levels of carbon dioxide and ammonia gases, and they attributed this increase to the decomposition of litter material in the presence of significantly lower ventilation rates especially in cold months of the year. Méda et al. (2011) recorded similar findings to the current results; increases in ammonia volatilization due to increased litter moisture content was a result of increases in microclimatic relative humidity.

 

The poultry production witnessed great expansion, and within this expansion, the interest in using other bedding materials as slats and cages have been increased as they contributed fewer problems and enhanced poultry welfare. The most common recorded problems from using litter were footpad lesions, hock joint dermatitis, hock joint arthritis, and femoral head necrosis as reported by Dawkins et al. (2017). Çavuşoğlu et al. (2018) also investigated some welfare parameters in 210-day-old male broiler chickens raised on deep litter, a mix of litter and slat system, and a slatted floor, they recorded negative influences on the measured welfare parameters in broilers raised on deep-litter, while the high live body weights recorded in broilers raised on slat floor contributed to severe pathological affections of the breast and shoulder.

 

Meanwhile, Adam (2017) reported that a deep litter housing system provided an optimum environment for layers and egg quality in the presence of good managerial procedures compared to battery cages housing system in open-sided houses. Kaukonen et al. (2016) stated that litter abiotic conditions are the keystone for the development of many pathological conditions like footpad dermatitis, hock burns, and breast blisters. They also concluded that maintaining litter quality is not enough to minimize the incidence of these pathological affections.

 

The current research reported significantly higher weight gains, performance indices, and live body weights, as well as, lower feed intake and consequently lower and enhanced feed conversion ratio in broilers raised in slat and cage systems compared to deep litter systems. The results were consistent with those recorded by Dhaliwal et al. (2018) and Davasgaium and Boodoo, (2000) who revealed that rice husk, wheat straw, and the mustard stalk were more or less similar, although birds on saw consumed the lowest amount of feed. Al-Bahouh et al. (2012) and Santos et al. (2008) reported enhanced performance of broiler breeds (Indian River®, Cobb®500, and Ross®308) that were raised in cages than on floors. Chuppava et al. (2018) conducted an experimental trial using Ross®308 broiler breed to investigate the influence of different flooring systems (50% or 100% slatted floors) with reduced contact to the excreta on body weight, carcass weight, feed intake, they reported that final body weight was significantly increased by the end of the fattening cycle which lasts for day 36 by using fully-slatted floors compared to commonly littered floors. Broilers on the plastic slatted floor were observed to have relatively higher weight gains and higher feed conversion ratios than when raised on wood shavings, this may be attributed to the prohibited possibilities for the birds to peck and manipulate particles in case of a slatted floor, so feed pecking occurs rather than the slatted floor resulting in higher feed intake. Pereira et al. (2007) observed that the presence of air movement between the manure and perforated floor can reduce heat stress in the slat-floor system, which in turn increases the productivity of birds.

 

Samli et al. (2010) explained that advanced floor housing as cages can adventurously and positively influence the broiler’s performance and intestinal microbiota. On the other hand, Fouad et al. (2008) reported that chicks housed on wood shaving were more active, had higher metabolic rates, and increased walking and playing behavior (mixing of floor materials). While, Pedroso et al. (2006) recorded no differences in feed intakes and gain ratios neither on the floor nor on cages for broilers. Darwish et al. (2017) found that Evian broiler on litter floor had higher body weights, weight gains, and feed consumption in most of the studied intervals compared to those raised in battery cages (p≤0.05 and 0.01), and no significant differences for feed conversion ratios, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters, and some immunity between the littered floor and battery cage systems.

 

The current results reported declined carcass and organs’ weights like liver, heart, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius in broilers raised on the tested deep litter systems including wood shavings, rice husk, and wheat straw. The results were consistent with those reported by Dal Bosco et al. (2015) who concluded that housing broilers on a deep litter system contributed to lower meat pH values and color, as well as, the higher percentage of monosaturated fatty acids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Also, Darwish et al. (2017) reported higher performance and increased carcass yield in Evian broilers raised on floor system in comparison with battery cages. Li et al. (2017) recorded no significant differences in productive performances and the incidence of pathological affections development in broilers raised on the conventional deep litter system and those raised plastic slats.

 

Our results revealed significant increases in serum concentrations of total immunoglobulin IgG and IgM in broilers raised in the battery system and on the slatted floor. The result was consistent to those of Taherparvar et al. (2019) who investigated the influence of litter (sand, wood shaving, and paper) on some blood parameters and immunity in 270 day-old male Ross®308 broiler chicken, they recorded significant increases in total immunoglobulin titer contributed to the significant increase in immunoglobulin M. The current results recorded a significant decline in total bacterial counts of intestinal (duodenal) swabs in broilers raised in battery and on slatted floors compared to the deep litter systems. The current results might be attributed to the maintaining action of strict hygienic measures on the slatted floor and battery cages compared to deep litter. De Almeida et al. (2017) concluded that using slat-floor systems can be more efficient and contribute to lower pathological affections, high-quality environment, and high live body weights. De Jong et al. (2016) who reported a necessity to maintain hygienic measure and management of floor system to maintain the optimum welfare conditions in broilers. They also found that the welfare parameters like cleanliness, hock burn, footpad dermatitis, and gait score on-farm are highly correlated with the development of hock burn and footpad dermatitis in a slaughter plant.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The study tested different types of floor systems that can be used in broiler farms like wood shaving, rice husks, wheat straw, slats, and cages. The study revealed that despite the numerous advantages of the deep litter systems and their enhancing influence over growth traits and immunity, they still carry dangerous disadvantages when mishandled, these disadvantages can be summarized in creating friendly conditions for the growth and multiplication of many pathogenic micro-organisms and contribute to higher chances of disease development.

 

Slatted floors and battery cages were able to maintain indoor air quality (levels of carbon dioxide and ammonia), reduce microbial contamination by maintaining a harsh condition that obstacle the growth and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms, and enhance growth traits and immunity of broiler chickens.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

Sincere thanking for Prof. M.A. Sobieh for his generous directions during the experiment.

 

Conflict of Interest

The author declared no conflict of interest.

 

Ethical Approval

The procedures used in the present study were approved by the Scientific Research Ethics Committee on animal and poultry researches, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt (approval number 2020012).

 

AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

 

ESS designed the experiment, Participated in preparation, executing the experiment, and in writing the manuscript. RAH participated in executing the experiment and in writing the manuscript.

 

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