Comparison of broiler fattening traits of Louisiana and conventional housing systems

Since about 1988 broiler houses in Germany are constructed by the Louisiana -Principle. For a comparison of the different housing systems (conventional versus Louisiana) the production control results of the Bruterei Slid Rege nstauf of 1593 rotations (1264 conventional, 329 Louisiana) collected over the period from August 1997 to October 1998 have been analyzed. The comparison of the fatttening results of the housing systems showed no s ignificant differences. The percentage of unaccepted and too small carcasse s was slightly increased in the Louisiana houses (difference of unaccepted broilers: 0,22% (p less than or equal to 0,001), of too small carcasses: 0. 15 (p less than or equal to 0,05). In some months significant differences in final live weight between the two housing systems occurred, but no clear seasonal trend could be analyzed.