Effect of Yucca schidigera additions to different litter materials on broiler performance, footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different levels of Yucca schidigera additions to different litter materials on broiler performance, footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics. A total of five hundred seventy six 1-d-old male broiler chicks (ROSS-308) was randomly assigned to 48 pens. Chicks were randomly allocated to 2 litter and 4 Yucca schidigera treatments (0, 4, 8, 12%) with 6 replication pens. Each pen consisted of 12 chicks. Performances of broilers, ratio of footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics were not affected by Yucca schidigera additions to the litter materials. However, body weight gain and feed conversion from 1 to 21 days, total feed intake, total colony counts and number of Enterobacteriaceae in the litter were changed by litter material. Litter material by level of Yucca schidigera interaction was significant for body weight gain and feed conversion. Further studies will be done with different doses and applications of Yucca schidigera additions to the litter.