EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT HOUSING CONDITIONS ( STOCKING DENSITY) ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS AND THE COMPOSITION OF LITTER

the present study the influence of a reduced stocking density on body weight, feed and water intake as well as the dry matter and nitrogen-c entent (N) of bedding was examined in 3 fattening periods (2 x convent ional closed stable, each 36 days, 1 x Louisiana stable, 40 days). In the controlls (stocking density 38 kg/m(2)) the broilers achieved a me an slaughter weight of 1497, 1411 and 1681 g, under experimental condi tions (stocking density on average 33 kg/m(2)) the compareable figures were 1555, 1431 and 1793 g. Feed conversion ratios were better and th e mortality during the fattening periods were lower in groups with red uced stockling density than in the controlls.There was no remarkable i mprovement of litter quality during the fattening periods in dependanc e on reduced stocking density. The dry matter content of litter decrea sed to 60%. At end of fattening the bedding contained 6-90 NH3-N, 7-17 g urea-N and 0,4-4 g uric acid-N/kg wet weight. The lowest uric acid values were found in the bedding samples from Louisiana stables. Effec ts of a reduced stocking density became obvious only in conventional c losed stables by lowered NH3-N-concentrations. The stocking density ha d no influence on the distribution of the different fractions of NPN w ith regard to total N.