Indian Journal of Animal Research

The experiment was conducted at Ravi Campus of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan to assess the effect of wood-shaving, wheat-straw, corn-cob pulp and rice-husk (bedding materials) on the performance of three commercial strains of broiler viz, Ross-308, Cobb-500 and Arbor Acres. Three-hundred-sixty day-old chicks, 120/strain were distributed into 36 replicates (10 birds/replicate) according to 4×3 factorial arrangements. Weekly weight gain, FCR, livability and rearing cost was recorded. Birds raised on corn cob pulp exhibited enhanced (P≤0.05) body weight, FCR, lesser rearing cost and superior (P≤0.05) livability. Among strains, Ross-308 and Cobb-500 showed improved performance compared to Arbor Acres. Serum glucose and immune response were not affected by bedding material or strain; serum cholesterol was higher at rice husk; abdominal fat pad and foot pad dermatitis were higher at corn cob pulp and wood shaving. It was concluded that corn cob pulp proved to be a better bedding material, especially in Ross-308 and Cobb-500.