Author(s):

APS Dhaliwal, Balwinder Singh Dhillon and JS Brar

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the selection of bedding material used in poultry birds during the rearing period. Total 72 chicks (Rhode Island Red, Punjab Red and Kadaknath) were used on a completely randomized design in four treatments of deep litter materials i.e. wheat straw, rice husk, mustard stalk and sand. This study includes four treatments along with three replicates and each replicate consists of 18 birds. Standard feeding and management practices were followed during the experimental period. Differences in body weight of adults, feed intake and egg production and weight of chicks reared on wheat straw, rice husk and mustard stalk were significantly higher than those of sand. There was a similarity in egg length, egg width, and egg shape index among the different litter materials. The moisture content increased from 8.15 to 40.4% in wheat straw, 11.4 to 45.3% in rice husk, 7.80 to 38.7% in mustard stalk and 2.2 to 17.4% in sand during the study. The cost of litter for rearing one bird in deep litter system was Rs. 1.90, 0.95, 0.85 and 0.80 for sand, mustard stalk, rice straw and wheat straw respectively. It was concluded that any of these three bedding materials (wheat straw, rice husk and mustard stalk) may be used and these are cheap and locally available to the poultry entrepreneurs. Overall rice husk gives excellent results as they have the ability to absorb the moisture and remain dry which is the basic requirement of deep litter system. The manure quality of rice husk is very excellent as compare to other materials. Birds as well as health is more vigour in rice husk as compared to other materials.

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