Effects of delayed placement and used litter on broiler yields

Male broiler chicks having either immediate of a 24-hr delayed access to fe ed and water after transportation from the hatchery were placed in floor pe ns having new or used pine shavings. All birds received common feeds not co ntaining antimicrobials other than coccidiostat to 7 wk. Chicks experiencin g delayed access had a 50% reduction in yolk sac contents compared to those placed earlier, reduced weight gain at 3 wk which was never recovered, and additional mortality. Employing used litter also led to reductions in weig ht gain at 3 wk, but birds subsequently compensated. Broilers delayed in pl acement had reduced carcass weight and a decreased percentage of grade A's, but proportion of parts after cone deboning was unaffected. Although birds reared on used litter had carcass weight similar to those on new litter, b ruised drumsticks were more apparent and the proportion of breast fillets i ncreased at the expense of rib cage and frame, particularly with delayed pl acement. For the most part, the adverse effects of delayed placement were i ndependent of those resulting from used litter.