Effect of Deep-Stacking at Different Levels of Moisture Conternt and at Different depths on Safety of Broiler Litter

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).

Keywords

Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 44, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
January 2014
Pages 405-412

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 23 July 2012
  • Revise Date: 03 June 2014
  • Accept Date: 02 February 2014

Share

How to cite

Statistics