Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
USDA-ARS, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, AL 36832, USA.
Poult Sci. 2024 Jun;103(6):103676. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103676. Epub 2024 Mar 20.
Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) gypsum is a byproduct of the coal-fired power plant process commonly used to remove sulfur dioxide emissions from the flue gas. FGD gypsum has numerous industrial, agricultural, and environmental applications. This study aimed to explore a novel approach involving the use of FGD gypsum combined with different litter treatments as bedding for broiler production. It focused on performance metrics, including adjusted feed conversion ratio (AFCR) and average body weight (BW), foot pad dermatitis (FPD), and fear response over 5 consecutive flocks. A total of 1,800 one-day-old Ross 708 chicks were randomly assigned to 24 pens (75 birds/pen), divided into 6 treatment groups (4 pens/treatment), with 5 replications and raised until 42 d old (d). Treatments were gypsum that was decaked (D), rotovated (E), and rotovated then windrowed (F) between flocks. Control treatments using pine shavings were decaked (A), rotovated (B), and windrowed postrotovating (C). AFCR, average BW, and mortality were used as a measure of production. Foot pad dermatitis scores were taken on d42 using a scale of 0 (absence), 1 (mild), and 2 (severe). Response to observer and human approach test were used to measure fear response. Data were analyzed as a 2-way ANOVA (Proc Glimmix) for the main effects of bedding type and litter treatment. Means were identified using Tukey's HSD. No effect of bedding type or litter treatment was found for AFCR, BW, or mortality. FPD scores 2 and 1, were higher with pine shavings than gypsum (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). While FPD scores 0 were higher for gypsum than the pine shaving (P = 0.01). No difference in fear response was found among birds raised on any of the gypsum litter treatments and any of the pine shaving litter treatments. Overall, the use of gypsum as bedding results in equivalent production and fear response to pine shavings, while increasing FPD quality when compared to pine shaving.
烟气脱硫 (FGD) 石膏是燃煤电厂过程中的一种副产品，常用于从烟道气中去除二氧化硫排放。FGD 石膏具有许多工业、农业和环境应用。本研究旨在探索一种新方法，即使用 FGD 石膏与不同垫料处理相结合作为肉鸡生产的垫料。它侧重于性能指标，包括调整饲料转化率 (AFCR) 和平均体重 (BW)、脚垫皮炎 (FPD) 和 5 个连续批次的恐惧反应。总共 1800 只 1 日龄罗斯 708 小鸡被随机分配到 24 个鸡舍 (75 只/鸡舍)，分为 6 个处理组 (4 个鸡舍/处理)，5 个重复，饲养至 42 日龄 (d)。处理方法是在鸡舍之间对石膏进行去壳 (D)、旋耕 (E) 和旋耕后垄作 (F)。使用松屑的对照处理是去壳 (A)、旋耕 (B) 和旋耕后垄作 (C)。AFCR、平均 BW 和死亡率用作生产指标。在 d42 时使用 0(不存在)、1(轻度)和 2(严重)的评分标准来评估脚垫皮炎评分。通过观察者和人类接近测试来评估对恐惧的反应。数据作为 2 种方差分析 (Proc Glimmix) 进行分析，以确定垫料类型和垫料处理的主要影响。使用 Tukey 的 HSD 来确定平均值。垫料类型或垫料处理对 AFCR、BW 或死亡率没有影响。松屑的 FPD 评分 2 和 1 高于石膏 (P = 0.01 和 P = 0.01)，而石膏的 FPD 评分 0 高于松屑 (P = 0.01)。在使用任何一种石膏垫料处理和任何一种松屑垫料处理的鸟类中，对恐惧的反应没有差异。总体而言，与松屑相比，FGD 石膏作为垫料使用可获得同等的生产和恐惧反应，同时还能提高 FPD 的质量。
