Influence of using perforated plastic flooring beneath the waterline on animal distribution of broiler chickens correlated with litter quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of perforated flooring beneath waterlines in broiler barns by using a camera system counting the animals and to investigate effects on animal welfare. In addition, the correlation between the number of animals and litter quality values was tested. Therefore, five experimental runs in two barns with a defined fattening period of 32 days were conducted. Each run consisted of 15,100 broilers of Ross 308 genetics of both sexes. They were split into two groups with three areas each (drinking, feeding, and comfort area) for the camera analysis and the weekly sampling. In the experimental group, frequently more broilers were counted on the perforated flooring in the drinking area with highest stocking density of 14.52 animals/m2. The control group instead had the highest stocking density with 11.92 animals/m2 in the comfort area. The correlation between animals/m2 on litter quality showed a small positive impact in the drinking and feeding area on dry matter in the experimental group. All in all, the installation of a perforated floor below the water line offers the broilers the opportunity to perform more species-typical behaviour, as they use the elevated perforated floor at night for perching as anti-predation behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]