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Three experiments, which included 4 broiler flocks, were conducted to examine the usefulness of a novel bedding material for rearing broilers. The control bedding was pine shavings. The novel bedding, aGroChips (AC), was a chopped material made from cotton lint waste, gypsum, and old newsprint using a proprietary paper manufacturing process (Novovita, Inc., Raleigh, NC). All birds were fed the same feeding program: starter from 0 to 3 wk, grower from 3 to 5 or 6 wk, and finisher during the last week. Birds were marketed at either 6 or 7 wk of age. Feed consumption by pen and individual bird BW were measured at 3 and 6 or 7 wk. Mean BW and feed conversion, adjusted to include weight of mortality, were calculated. A sample of birds (n = 10) from each pen was evaluated for hock and foot pad condition. Each pen was evaluated at the end of the trial for litter cake index in 3 of the 4 flocks. Litter cake index scores were generally higher for birds reared on AC litters. There were no other differences in bird performance for any of the flocks. In conclusion, broilers reared on AC bedding perform as well as those reared on pine shavings.

Broiler breeders were fed CGA -72662 ( Larvadex ) at dosages of 0, 30, 300, and 3000 mg/kg (ppm) diet in a standard breeder diet from 25 to 65 weeks of age. The 3000 ppm level was reduced stepwise to 1000 ppm from 25 to 27 weeks due to a significant increase in male and female mortality. Feed consumption did not differ significantly due to treatment. However, birds fed 300 ppm exhibited significantly improved feed conversion and increased egg production on a hen-day basis compared to those fed 0 and 30 ppm with the 1000 ppm level intermediate. On an egg per hen-housed basis, birds fed 300 ppm produced significantly more eggs than those fed 0 ppm with 30 ppm intermediate. Hens fed 1000 ppm produced significantly fewer eggs than all other treatments due to higher initial mortality. Body weight gains for males and females among treatments were similar. Mortality was significantly greater at 1000 ppm than for all other treatments. Egg specific gravity at 50 and 60 weeks was not affected significantly by any treatment. Egg weight, when compared to the 0 ppm level, was decreased significantly at the 1000 ppm level at 50 weeks and by both 300 and 1000 ppm levels at 60 weeks. Egg shell weight was not affected significantly at 50 weeks, but was decreased significantly by both 300 and 1000 ppm Larvadex at 60 weeks. There were no significant effects due to treatment level on fertility, early deads , pipped eggs, hatchability of fertile eggs, or hatchability of eggs set.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Leghorn laying hens were induced to molt by a combination of photoperiod reduction and fasting for 14 days, during which time the hens lost 31.5% of their initial body weight. The hens were then assigned to one of four diets containing 1.0, 1.75, 2.5, or 3.5% calcium until egg production resumed. The 3.5% calcium diet was fed to all treatments from the resumption of 5% egg production. Postmolt egg production and feed conversion were not affected significantly. Egg weight, shell weight, and egg specific gravity were not affected consistently. It was concluded that high dietary calcium levels immediately postfast have no adverse effect on postmolt performance.