Metabolism and Nutrition II: Feed Ingredients

wk. Feed consumption, body weight and feed conversion were measured at 2, 4 and 6 wk. Carcass yield and weights of abdominal fat, gizzard and ceca were also determined at 6 wk. All birds were intramuscularly immunized with killed vaccine of Newcastle and Avian Influenza (H9 N2) at 8 d and antibody titer responses to Newcastle and Influenza were determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test at 18 and 28 d. Body weight and feed intake of broilers reared on rice hulls decreased compared to other litters (P < 0.05). Litter materials had no significant influence on feed conversion, carcass yield, gizzard and ceca weights. Percentage of abdominal fat were significantly lower for birds reared on paper roll than birds reared on rice hulls. Antibody titer against Newcastle and Influenza vaccine at 18 d elevated in broilers reared on sand. In conclusion, broilers reared on sand and paper roll perform as well as those reared on wood shavings.