THE EFFECTS OF BEDDING MATERIAL CONTAINING PEAT MOSS ON BROILER PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND FERTILIZING VALUE OF THE LITTER

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of alternative bedding materials on broiler production performances and litter quality in plant production. A 40-day experiment was carried out on 6885 broilers of ROSS 308 provenience. The broilers were reared on bedding material which consisted of cellulose pellets, wood chips, peat moss, and pH stabilizers. Feeding, zoohygienic and zootechnical measures met technological normative for this provenience. During the experiment, health status and mortality of broilers were observed. Litter pH, moisture, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content in litter were determined at the end of experiment. Average live weight of broilers at the end of the trial was 2620 g. Mortality of chickens was 1.52%. The results of the study indicated that use of specified bedding material was beneficial for broilers production parameters. The results of investigation of litter quality indicate that it can provide similar benefits to inorganic fertilizers in terms of plant growth.