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The objective of this study was to establish the effects of chestnut tannin extract or vitamin E added to linseed oil-enriched diets on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 240 day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were included in trial. 5% of cold-pressed linseed oil was included in finisher diets (21–40 days), and three feeding treatments with four replicates were formed: finisher without additives finisher + 200 IU vitamin E/kg finisher + 500 mg/kg of chestnut wood tannin extract. No significant influence of treatments was established on body weight or feed conversion ratio. A negative effect on feed intake (p < 0.05) was found in the vitamin E group. The addition of vitamin E increased the dressing percentage (p < 0.05) and increased the breast meat yield (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. No significant effects were found on the water holding capacity or pH of breast meat. The highest level of AST (p < 0.01) and ALT (p < 0.05) was recorded in vitamin E group. The addition of chestnut tannin extract in feed increased villus height, villus height: crypt depth ratio, and villus area compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that vitamin E supplementation improves carcass percentage and breast meat yield, while chestnut tannins improve the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens when added to oil-enriched diets.The objective of this study was to establish the effects of chestnut tannin extract or vitamin E added to linseed oil-enriched diets on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 240 day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were included in trial. 5% of cold-pressed linseed oil was included in finisher diets (21–40 days), and three feeding treatments with four replicates were formed: finisher without additives finisher + 200 IU vitamin E/kg finisher + 500 mg/kg of chestnut wood tannin extract. No significant influence of treatments was established on body weight or feed conversion ratio. A negative effect on feed intake (p < 0.05) was found in the vitamin E group. The addition of vitamin E increased the dressing percentage (p < 0.05) and increased the breast meat yield (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. No significant effects were found on the water holding capacity or pH of breast meat. The highest level of AST (p < 0.01) and ALT (p < 0.05) was recorded in vitamin E group. The addition of chestnut tannin extract in feed increased villus height, villus height: crypt depth ratio, and villus area compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that vitamin E supplementation improves carcass percentage and breast meat yield, while chestnut tannins improve the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens when added to oil-enriched diets.

Harmful gases, such as ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2), affect both birds and workers involved in broiler production. Five hundred and seventy-six one-day-old ROSS 308 broilers were reared on six types of litter (Treatment 1: chopped wheat straw; treatment 2: wood shavings; treatment 3: mixture of 1/3 chopped wheat straw, 1/3 wood shavings and 1/3 peat; treatment 4: wheat straw pellets; treatment 5: softwood pellets and treatment 6: pellets of 1/3 wheat straw, 1/3 wood shavings and 1/3 peat). Using chamber emission of harmful gases, NH3 and CO2 were measured weekly for each treatment. The results showed that the critical level of NH3 was reached for the first time on day 28. By the end of the rearing period, NH3 concentrations were above the permitted value in all the treatments, with no significant difference between treatments (P > 0.05). The carbon dioxide values did not exceed the critical level during the fattening period. Litter types made no significant difference (P > 0.05) to carbon dioxide concentrations. The type of litter significantly affected the final body weight. This paper describes the influence of different materials and material combinations used as litter in broiler production. As birds are in constant contact with the litter, careful selection, appropriate management and proper storage and use of poultry litter contributes to improving in-house air quality and reducing air emissions from animal production facilities.

U cilju utvrđivanja uticaja starosti gusaka (godine) i faze (meseci) proizvodnog ciklusa u toku sezone nošenja jaja Italijanske bele guske na inkubacione osobine jaja i kvalitet izleženih guščića sprovedena su istraživanja na poljoprivrednoj zadruzi “Anser” koja su trajala četiri godine (2014. do 2017. godine). Ogledom je obuhvaćeno ukupno 1.200 jaja koja su u svakoj sezoni (od februara do jula) u toku proizvodnog ciklusa inkubirana. U svakom mesecu (fazi) u toku sezone inkubirano je po 50 jaja, odnosno 300 jaja u svakoj sezoni. Naime, u svakom proizvodnom ciklusu (godini) inkubirano je po 300 jaja, a za četiri godine 1.200 jaja. U toku istraživanja praćene su reproduktivne osobine, tj. oplođenost jaja i leženost guščića u svakom turnusu, odnosno pri svakom inkubiranju jaja (24 turnusa). Pored toga, u zavisnosti od kategorije jaja, individualno je utvrđena masa svih jaja pre inkubacije, apsolutni i relativni gubitak mase jaja do 25. dana inkubacije, dužina, širina i indeks oblika jaja (sva jaja, oplođena, neoplođena i jaja sa uginulim embrionom), dok je kod pete, najvažnije kategorije jaja (jaja iz kojih su se izlegli guščići), osim navedenih pokazatelja utvrđena i masa izleženih guščića, kao i relativni udeo guščeta u masi jajeta pre inkubacionog perioda. Posebna pažnja je posvećena kategoriji jaja iz kojih su se izlegli guščići i u cilju dobijanja što konkretnijih zaključaka, pored utvrđivanja navedenih pokazatelja, izračunata je fenotipska korelaciona povezanost između praćenih osobina, posebno između mase jaja pre inkubacije i ostalih osobina jaja i izleženih guščića. Posmatrano po proizvodnim ciklusima (godinama) prosečna masa jaja iz kojih su se izlegli guščići se povećavala, a u okviru sezone od februara do jula smanjivala. Naime, prosečna masa jaja pre inkubacije kretala se između 166,32 g (I ciklus) i 172,97 g (IV ciklus), odnosno između 178,59 g (februar) i 161,80 g (jul), tj. prosečna masa 943 jajeta iznosila je 170,35 g. U I proizvodnom ciklusu jaja su imala statistički značajno veću prosečnu masu (P0,05)... With an aim to determine effects of goose age (years) and the phase (months) of the production cycle of the Italian White Goose during the laying season on incubation characteristics of eggs and the quality of newly hatched goslings, a research was carried out on the agricultural farm „Anser“ during a period of four years (2014 to 2017). The study covered a total of 1200 eggs which were incubated in each season (from February to July) during the production cycle. Fifty (50) eggs were incubated each month (phase) during the season, i.e. 300 eggs during each season, which gives a grand total of 1200 eggs in four years. During the study reproductive traits were observed, i.e. fertilization of eggs and gosling hatchability in each rotation and on the occasion of each egg incubation (24 rotations). Furthermore, depending on the egg category, egg mass of all eggs was determined before incubation, absolute and relative egg mass loss up to 25th day of incubation, length, width and egg shape index (all eggs, fertilized, non-fertilized and eggs with dead embryo). In the fifth, most important category (eggs from which goslings were hatched), apart from the above characteristics, mass of newly hatched goslings was also determined, as well as the relative percentage of gosling in the egg mass before the incubation period. Special attention was given to the egg category from which the goslings were hatched and for the purpose of reaching as accurate conclusions as possible, apart from establishing above indicators, phenotype correlation was calculated between the traits observed, particularly between egg mass before incubation and remaining egg traits and newly hatched goslings. In terms of production cycles (years) average egg mass of eggs from which goslings were hatched increased, while during the season, from February to July, egg mass decreased. Namely, average egg mass before incubation was between 166,32 g (Cycle I), and 172,97 g (Cycle IV), and between 178,59 g (February) and 161,80 g (July), i.e. average mass of 943 eggs was 170,35 g. In the first production cycle eggs had a statistically significantly larger average mass (P0,05)...

Cilj istraţivanja bio je da se ispita uticaj svetlosnog programa (konstantnog – KS i opadajuĆe- rastuĆeg - ORS), gustine obroka i gustine naseljenosti i njihove interakcije na proizvodne i klaniČne osobine brojlerskih piliĆa, kvalitet mesa i ošteĆenje tabanskih jastuČiĆa.Istraţivanja su sprovedena na farmi piliĆa Donji Crnci nadomak Podgorice u tri ogleda: u prvom su ispitivani efekti svetlosnog programa i gustine obroka, u drugom programi svetla i gustina naseljenosti piliĆa, a u treĆem program svetla i gustina obroka (smeše sa standardnim i poveĆanim sadrţajem energije i proteina, pri Čemu je odnos energija : protein bio konstantan). U svakom ogledu bilo je 320 piliĆa linijskog hibrida Cobb 500, mešanih po polu, a ogledi su trajali 42 dana. U sva tri ogleda formirane su po Četiri grupe sa Četiri ponavljanja i u svakoj grupi bilo je 80 jednodnevnih piliĆa.Proizvodni parametri (telesna masa, utrošak hrane i uginuĆa) praĆeni su u svim ogledima, a izraČunati su konverzija hrane i proizvodni indeks. Telesne mase su merene u uzrastu od 1; 7; 14; 21; 28; 35 i 42 dana. Utrošak hrane utvrčivan je na kraju perioda primene pojedinih smeša, i to: 14. dana koliČina konzumirane starter smeše, 35. dana grovera i 42. dana finišer smeše. Mortalitet je odrečivan beleţenjem broja uginulih piliĆa u toku trajanja ogleda. Na osnovu telesnih masa, konverzije hrane i mortaliteta izraČunati su proizvodni indeksi.Na kraju svakog ogleda, sa 6 nedelja starosti, piliĆi su izmereni pojedinaČno, izraČunati su proseci tretmana, a zatim je od svakog tretmana izdvojeno 20 piliĆa (10 muških i 10 ţenskih) radi ispitivanja klaniČnih karakteristika. Pre klanja piliĆi su gladovali 12 sati. Nakon klanja i ČišĆenja trupovi su ohlačeni na 40C u toku 24 sata, a potom obračeni kao: „klasiČna obrada” „spremno za peČenje” i „spremno za roštilj”.Pri konfekcioniranju trupova izdvojena je abdominalna mast, izmerene mase obračenih trupova i dobijeni randmani. Radi utvrčivanja prinosa i udela osnovnih i sporednih delova trupa izvršeno je rasecanje ohlačenih trupova. Ocena konformacije trupova izvršena je na osnovu utvrčenih apsolutnih mera: duţine piska, duţina kobilice, dubina grudi i obim bataka. KorišĆen je indeks koji predstavlja odnos ţive mase pre klanja i posmatrane mere (g/mm).U ogledu II izvršeno je i fiziČko ispitivanje kostiju, na femuru nakon izdvajanja od skeleta brojlera, a u ogledu III odrečeni su sadrţaj vlage, sadrţaj ukupne masti, ukupnog pepela i ukupnih proteina belog i crvenog mesa, na uzorcima mišiĆnog tkiva grudi i karabataka od 5 muških i 5 ţenskih trupova u svakom tretmanu (ukupno 20).Rezultati ukazuju da svetlosni program nije statistiČki znaČajno uticao na završne telesne mase u ogledima I i II, dok su u ogledu III veĆe mase utvrčene kod piliĆa tovljenih pri KS. Primena ORS uticala je na usporavanje stope rasta u prvom periodu tova, a kao rezultat kompenzacionog porasta bez uticaja na završne mase, sem u treĆem ogledu. Bolju konverziju hrane u periodu ishrane finišerom postigli su piliĆi u ogledu I pri ORS nego pri KS, kao i u ishrani starterom u ogledu III. Svetlosni programi u ogledu II nisu uticali na konverziju hrane i mortalitet piliĆa.Gustina obroka nije uticala na završne mase, konverziju hrane, mortalitet i proizvodni indeks. Kod piliĆa hranjenih obrocima sa višim sadrţajem proteina i energije utvrčene su veĆe telesne mase na kraju tova (PIspitivani faktori (svetlo, gustina obroka i gustina naseljenosti) nisu uticali na randmane, ali jesu interakcije nekih od njih. U svim ogledima utvrčen je manji udeo abdominalne masti pri ORS nego pri KS, ali bez statistiČke znaČajnosti. Gustina obroka i gustina naseljenosti nisu uticali na sadrţaj abdominalne masti. VeĆi je sadrţaj abdominalne masti u svim ogledima bio kod ţenskih nego muških piliĆa. Udeo grudi veĆi je pri KS nego pri ORS, ali su razlike statistiČki znaČajne samo u treĆem ogledu. Gustina obroka i gustina naseljenosti nisu uticale na udeo grudi. Udeo bataka bio je veĆi kod piliĆa tovljenih pri ORS nego pri KS, ali su razlike statistiČki znaČajne samo u prvom ogledu. Udeo karabataka u prvom i drugom ogledu nije se znaČajno razlikovao izmeču svetlosnih programa, dok je u treĆem bio veĆi pri ORS nego pri KS (PRelativne vrednosti mera konformacije nisu bile pod uticajem svetlosnih programa i gustine obroka, osim što je pri manjoj gustini naseljenosti relativna vrednost dubine grudi bila veĆa (PSvetlosni program i gustina naseljenosti nisu uticali na fiziČke osobine femura: površinu preseka, silu loma i specifiČnu silu loma. Muški piliĆi imali su veĆi površinu preseka i silu loma femura, razlike za površinu preseka su statistiČki znaČajne, ali ne i za silu loma.Procenat masti u tamnom mesu bio je veĆi, a proteina niţi pri ORS nego pri KS. Ostali parametri hemijske analize tamnog i belog mesa nisu bili pod uticajem svetlosnih programa. Gustina obroka nije imala uticaj na hemijski sastav mesa grudi i karabataka.Na osnovu svega iznesenog moţe se zakljuČiti da su sva tri faktora (svetlosni program, gustina obroka i gustina naseljenosti), kao i njihove interakcije, uticali na brojne proizvodne parametre i kvalitet mesa brojlera, pa i na njihovu dobrobit u razliČitim fazama tova. ImajuĆi u vidu ogromne razlike u efektima koji se mogu postiĆi pri razliČitim kombinacijama ovih Činilaca, rezultati ovih i sliČnih istraţivanja treba da olakšaju izbor tehnologije koja Će davati najbolje ekonomske efekte u tovu piliĆa. Takoče, tamo gde su rezultati nejasni ili kontradiktorni, treba nastaviti istraţivanja na veĆem broju jedinki i fokusirati se na ekonomski vaţnije proizvodne i klaniČne osobine piliĆa., The purpose of the research was to investigate the effect of the lighting program (constant – KS and intermittent – ORS), feed density and stocking density and their interaction with production and slaughterhouse characteristics of broiler chicken, meat quality and feet pad damage.The research was conducted on a chicken farm Donji Crnci in the vicinity of Podgorica, in three trials: the first trial focused on effects of the lighting program and feed density, the second on the lighting program and stocking density and the third on the lighting program and the feed density (mixes with standard and increased content of energy and protein, with a constant energy:protein ratio). Each of the trials included 320 chicken of the Cobb 500 hybrid line, mixed sexes; trials lasted for 42 days. In all three trials, four groups were formed with four repetitions and each group included 80 one-day chickens.Production parameters (weight, feed consumption and deaths) were monitored in all trials and feed conversion ratio and production index were calculated. Weight was measured when broilers were 1; 7; 14; 21; 28; 35 and 42 days old. Feed consumption was determined at the end of the use of specific mixes, as follows: 14th day the quantity of starter mix consumed, 35th day the quantity of grower mix consumed and 42nd day quantity of the finisher mix. Mortality rate was determined by recording the number of chicken that died during the trial. Production indices were calculated based on weight, food conversion ratio and mortality.At the end of all trials, at 6 weeks of age, the chickens were measured individually, group averages were calculated and then by random sampling, 20 chicken were taken from each group (10 males and 10 females) in order to analyse slaughter characteristics. Pre-slaughter fasting lasted for 12 hours. After slaughter and cleaning, the carcasses were cooled to 40C over 24 hours and then processed as: “classical processing”, “ready to grill” and “barbecue ready”.In carcass processing, abdominal fat was taken out, weight of processed carcases measured and carcass yield values were obtained. In order to determine the yield and share of the main and secondary parts of the carcass, cooled carcasses were cut out. Evaluation of carcass conformation was done on the basis of absolute measures of the following: metatarsus length, keel length, breast depth and drumsticks circumference. Index representing the ratio of live weight before slaughter and measure observed was used (g/mm).In Trial II, physical examination of bones was done, on femur, upon separation from the broiler skeleton, and in Trial III moisture content, total fat content, total ash content and total protein of white and red meat was determined on samples of muscle tissue of breasts and thighs of 5 male and 5 female carcasses in each of the treatments (20 in total).The results show that lighting program had no statistically significant effect on final body weight in Trials I and II, while in Trial III, higher weights were recorded in chicken fattened under KS. ORS resulted in slowing down of the growth rate in the first fattening period, and as a result of compensatory growth it had no effect on final weights, except in the third trial. Better food conversion ratio in the period of finisher mix diet was achieved by chicken in Trial I under ORS than those under KS, as well as in starter mix diet in Trial III. Lighting program in Trial II had no effect on food conversion ratio and mortality of chicken. Feed density did not have an effect on final weights, feed conversion, mortality and production index. In chicken fed with meals with higher protein and energy content, higher weight was recorded at the end of the fattening period (P8g) and differences had statistically high significance. No effect of stocking density was identified in terms of feed conversion, mortality and production index.Factors analysed (light, feed density and stocking population) did not have an effect on carcass yield, but interactions of some of them did. In all the trials, a smaller share of abdominal fat was established under ORS than under KS, but it was not statistically significant. Feed density and stocking density had no effect on abdominal fat content. Higher abdominal fat content in all trials was found in female than in male chicken. The share of breasts is larger under KS than under ORS, but differences are statistically significant only in the Trial III. Feed density and stocking density had no effect on the share of breasts in the carcass. The share of drumsticks was higher in chicken fattened under ORS than those under KS, but differences were statistically significant only in the Trial I. The share of thighs in Trials I and II did not differ significantly between lighting programs, while in the Trial III it was higher under ORS than under KS (PRelative values of conformation measures were not influenced by the light programs and feed density, except that in lower stocking density the relative value of the breast depth was higher (PLight program and stocking density did not have an effect on physical properties of femur: cross-sectional area, breaking force and specific breaking force. Male chicken had larger cross-sectional area and femur breaking force, differences in cross-sectional area were statistically significant, but this was not the case with the breaking force.Percentage of fat in dark meat was higher and that of proteins lower under ORS than under KS. Other parameters of the chemical analysis of dark and white meat were not under the influence of the light programs. Feed density had no effect on chemical composition of breasts and thighs meat.Based on all stated above, it can be concluded that all three factors (light program, feed density and stocking density) as well as their interactions had effect on numerous production parameters and quality of broiler meat, including on their welfare in different fattening phases. Taking into account enormous differences in effects that may be achieved in different combinations of these factors, the results of these and similar researches should make easier the selection of the technology that would yield the best economic effects in chicken fattening. Furthermore, where results are unclear or contradictory, further research should be conducted on a larger number of animals and focus on economically more significant production and slaughterhouse characteristics of chicken.

U okviru doktorske disertacije prikazani su rezultati ispitivanja razliĉitih tehnoloških postupaka u cilju prevencije nastanka oštećenja tabanskih jastuĉića brojlerskih pilića. Istraţivanja su sprovedena u 4 ogleda i to u jednom u kome su vršena ispitivanja fiziĉko – hemijskih i higroskopnih osobina materijala koji se mogu koristiti kao prostirka, kao i tri biološka ogleda koji su imali za cilj da ispitaju uticaj razliĉitih faktora na oštećenja tabanskih jatuĉića kod brojlerskih pilića. Cilj bioloških ogleda je bio da odgovore na pitanje da li se razliĉitim tretmanima prostirke, primenom razliĉitih preparata i ishranom moţe uticati na prevenciju nastanka tabanskih lezija kod brojlerskih pilića. Pored toga, cilj ovih ogleda je bio da se utvrdi kako primenjene tehnologije utiĉu na proizvodne rezultate brojlera. Od fiziĉkih karakteristika materijala koji se mogu koristiti kao prostirka u tovu brojlera ispitivane su sposobnost vezivanja i otpuštanja vode, a od hemijskih sadrţaj suve materije, sadrţaj sirovih vlakana kao i pojedine frakcije (NDF, ADF, hemiceluoza, celuloza i lignin). Biološki ogledi su sprovedeni u objektima eksprimentalne farme (mikro ogled) i u proizvodnim uslovima (makro ogled). U biološkim ogledima kao prostirka je korišćena pšeniĉna slama, a tretmani kojima je pokušano poboljšanje njenih karakteristika su bili seckanje, kao i dodatak mikrobiološko-enzimskog preparata (Micropan Complex®) i lignina. Uticaj ishrane na oštećenja tabanskih jastuĉića ispitivan je u biološkom ogledu, ishranom brojlerskih pilića smešama sa smanjenom energijom i dodavanjem enzima koji poboljšava varenje hrane. Kao rezultat uticaja pomenutih tretmana ispitivani su kvalitet prostirke (vlaga, pH i emisija amonijaka), proizvodnih parametri u tovu brojlera (telesna masa, utošak hrane, konverzija, mortalitet i proizvodni indeks), ponašanje brojlera, kao i nastanak i stepen oštećenja tabanskih jastuĉića.Ocena oštećenja tabanskih jastuĉića je vršena makroskopski (primenom skale od 0-3, a u skladu sa zahvaćenom površinom) i mikroskopski, histološkom analizom koţe tabanskih jastuĉića. Rezultati ispitivanja fiziĉko-hemijskih karakteristika razliĉitih materijala pokazuju da pšeniĉna slama upija velike koliĉine vode, a usled niskog sadrţaja NDF slabo optušta vodu te shodno tome predstavlja loš izbor za prostirku u pogledu nastanka oštećenja tabanskih jastuĉića. MeĊutim, rezultati su pokazali da seckanje slame, kao tehnološki postupak, moţe uticati na nastanak i stepen oštećenja tabanskih jastiĉića, ali da dovodi i do povećanja telesnih masa brojlera kao i promena u ponašanju pilića. Dodatak mikrobiološko-enzimskog preparata dovodi do smanjenja pojave i stepena oštećenja tabanskih jastuĉića brojlera gajenih i na seckanoj i na nesckanoj slami. Rezultati takoĊe pokazuju da se, u proizvodnim uslovima, primenom lignina uprostirci od neseckane slame moţe smanjiti oštećenje tabanskih jastuĉića. Upotreba smeša koje sadrţe smanjene koliĉine energije uz primenu enzima dovodi do prevencije u pogledu nastanka tabanskih lezija, bez znaĉajnog uticaja na proizvodne rezultate. Histološka analiza tabanskih jastuĉića je pokazala da sistem ocenjivanja koji se zasniva na zahvaćenoj površini tabanskih jastuĉića u saglasnosti sa stepenom i ozbiljnošću oštećenja koţe tabanskih jastuĉića i da moţe predstavljati standardi model za ocenjivanje na liniji klanja. Na osnovu rezultata ove disertacije se moţe zakljuĉiti da primenjeni tehnološki postupci mogu znaĉajno uticati na prevenciju oštećenja tabanskih jastuĉića, bez negativnog uticaja na proizvodne rezultate u tovu brojlera., Within this dissertation, the results of various technological processes are shown in order to prevent the occurrence of damage to the foot pads of broiler chickens. The study was conducted in four trials, one in which we investigated the physical - chemical and hygroscopic properties of materials that can be used as litter, as well as three biological trials which were aimed to examine the influence of various factors on the damage to the foot pads in broiler chickens. The objective of the biological experiments was to answer the question whether the various treatments of litters, usage of different preparations and nutrition can prevent occurrence of foot lesions in broiler chickens. In addition, the aim of this experiment was to determine how the applied technology affects performance of broiler chickens. Among physical properties of materials that can be used as litter in fatting broilers, absorption and release of water were investigate, and among chemical properties there were content of dry matter, crude fiber content as well as individual fractions (NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin). Biological experiments were conducted in the facilities of experimental farm (micro experiment) and in production conditions (macro experiment). In biological experiments wheat straw was used as litter and treatments which attempted to improve its characteristics were chopping and addition of microbial-enzyme preparation (Micropan Complex®) and lignin. Feeding influence on damage to the foot pad was tested in a biological experiment, by feeding broilers with reduced energy diet and by adding enzymes that improve digestion. As a result of the impact of the above mentioned treatments there were tested the litter quality (moisture, pH and ammonia emissions), production parameters in fattening broilers (body weight, feed consumption, conversion, mortality and production index), the behavior of broilers, as well as the onset and degree of damage to the foot pads.Assessment of the damage to the foot pads was done macroscopically (on a scale from 0-3, and according to the affected area) and microscopically, by histological analysis of skin of foot pads. Test results of physic-chemical characteristics of different materials indicate that wheat straw absorbs large amounts of water, due to the low content of NDF it releases water slowly and consequently represents a bad choice for a litter in terms of damage to the foot pads. However, the results showed that chopping straw as a technological procedure may influence the onset and degree of damage to the foot pads, but it also leads to an increase in body weight of broilers as well as changes in their behavior. Addition of microbial-enzyme preparation leads to a decrease in the occurrence and level of damage to the foot pads in broilers grown on both chopped and unchopped straw. The results have also shown that, under production conditions, using lignin inthe unchopped straw litter it can reduce the damage to the foot pads. The use of mixtures containing a reduced amount of energy with the use of the enzyme leads to prevention in terms of occurrence of foot lesions, without significant impact on performance. Histological analysis of foot pads have showed that the grading system that is based on the affected area of foot pads in accordance with the extent and severity of damage of the skin of foot pads and that it can represent a model for the assessment of standards on the slaughter line. Based on the results of this dissertation it can be concluded that the applied technological procedures can significantly influence the prevention ofdamage to the foot pads, with no negative impact on production results in fattening broilers.