Evaluating the economic impact of placement density and bedding material on productive performance in broiler chickens

Effects of stocking density and the type of material used as litter on production performance and economic parameters of broilers were investigated by using 2,016 day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks in a 3×2 factorial arrangement with three levels of birds placement density [PD; 10 (control), 14, and 18 birds per square meter], and two types of bedding material [BM; wood shavings (control), and cardboard roll] based on a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. The results showed that feed intake and weight gain of broilers with 10 birds density were significantly higher compared to 18, and 14 birds/m2 (P < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio of the birds that were raised on wood shavings was lower significantly in comparison with the birds grown on cardboard roll (P < 0.05). The highest values of economic indicators (benefit to cost ratio, and profit margin) were observed in PD 14 and then 18 birds/m2, both of which indicated a significant difference with the density of 10 birds/m2 (P < 0.01). Based on the results of current study, PD 14 birds/m2 in comparison with other PDs, by reducing the fixed costs of production, as well as numerical improvement in feed conversion can provide broiler farmers with more profit; moreover, cardboard roll with regard to its negative effect on feed efficiency cannot be used as an appropriate alternative for wood shavings.