EVALUATION OF KENAF CORE FOR BROILER LITTER

The suitability as broiler litter of the core from the kenaf plant (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) was evaluated in two floor-pen experiments. Experiment 1 compared fresh kenaf core particles (FKC) to fresh pine sawdust (FPS); Experiment 2 evaluated FKC, FPS, reused kenaf, and reused sawdust (from Experiment 1) and a 2-cm layer of FKC on top of a reused sawdust base. Both fresh litter treatments were placed in pens at a depth of 6.4 cm. Six replicate pens of 55 (Experiment 1) or 60 (Experiment 2) broilers per pen were used per treatment. Within each litter age (fresh and reused), litter type (kenaf and sawdust) had no significant effect on body weight, feed conversion, mortality, or incidence of breast blisters. Although total aerobic bacteria counts of the fresh litters prior to usage were similar, FPS had higher (P < .05) initial yeast and mold counts than FKC in both experiments. By 46 days of age in Experiment 1 and 42 days in Experiment 2, FKC had 21 and 16% higher (P < .05) litter moisture, respectively, than FPS. The effect of litter type on fecal caking was not consistent between experiments. Overall, fresh and reused kenaf appeared comparable to pine sawdust as a broiler litter material.