Effect of housing system and housing density on performance, viability, and gastrointestinal tract growth of broiler chicks during the first 2 wk of age

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of housing systems and housing densi-ties on the performance and digestive tract growth of broiler chicks during the first 2 wk of age. A total of 3,600 Cobb500 day-old chicks were stocked at 4 densi-ties (30, 60, 90, and 120 chicks/m2), and reared under 2 housing systems (conventional housing system and newly developed housing system), yielding a 2 & POUND; 4 fac-torial arrangement. The studied traits were perfor-mance, viability, and gastrointestinal tract development. The results indicated that housing sys-tems and housing densities significantly (P < 0.001) affected the performance and GIT development of chicks. There were no significant interactions between housing system and housing density for body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion. The results also showed that the effects of housing density were age-dependent. That is, the higher the density, the lower the performance and digestive tract growth with advancing age. In conclusion, birds in the conven-tional system outperformed birds in the newly devel-oped housing system, and further work is needed to improve the new housing system. To achieve the high-est performance, digestive tract growth, and digesta content, a density of 30 chicks/m2 is recommended for chicks up to 14-days old.