Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Former Graduate Student, Animal Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran
2
Associat Professor, Animal Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran
3
Academic Staff, Animal Science Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
4
Former Postgraduate Student, Animal Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of deep-stacking process on temperature and pathogenic bacterial survival of Broiler Litter (BL). Broiler litter, deep-stacked to 3 depths (30, 60 or 120 cm) and at 3 moisture levels (15, 25 or 35%) was made use of in a split plot design, experiment last for 21 days. Daily temperature of the deep-stacked BL at different depths and at different ambient temperatures were recorded. At the finite temperature of the deep-stacked BLs, representative samples were taken from different depths for later bacterial analysis. The effect of depth on temperature of deep-stacked BL was significant among the day’s 2 to 13 (P<0.05). Higher moisture level increased the temperature of deep-stacked BL on days 1-4 and 9-21 (P<0.05). The interaction effect of depth × moisture on temperature of deep stacked BL was significant (P<0.05). Total count of bacteria in the deep-stacked BL treatments decreased as compared with the control treatment (P<0.05) with the exception of the depth of 30 cm of 15% moisture and as well the depth of 120 cm of 25% moisture. Mean populations of Coliform bacteria in the depth of 30 cm with 25% moisture and in the depth 30 and 60 cm of 35% moisture amounted to zero. There were no Escherichia coli populations found in at the different depths of deep-stacked BL of 35% moisture. Mean populations of Salmonella in depths of 30 and 60 cm with 25 and 35% moisture contents and at the depth of 120 cm with 35% moisture content were recorded as zero. Overall, deep-stacking BL with 35% of moisture for 9 days (to reach the final destined temperature) decreased the total count of bacteria and other Coliforms and as well eliminated the pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella).
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