Carbonized Rice Husk as an Effective Bedding Material for Broiler to Reduce Burden of E. coli through Minimization of Ammonia Production from Litter

Abstract

| Broilers do not perform to their genetic potential in a stressful and diseased condition as concerned with poor bedding materials, high ammonia production from litter, and so on. The maximum ammonia production from litter depends on factors like moisture (%), pH, total nitrogen (%) of litter, and temperature of broiler houses. Carbonized Rice Husk (CRH) is a good poultry bedding material that consists of carbon and SiO 2 which interestingly enhance ammonia adsorption. Keeping the above fact, this study was conducted to reduce ammonia reducing immunosuppression that manages susceptibility of E. coli . When the maximum level of ammonia was produced i.e., on day 34, intra-nasal administration of E. coli of strain χ 7122 (serotype 078: K80:H9) at pathogenicity amount (9.4 x 10 5 cfu E. coli per bird) was done and morbidity and mortality rate was also recorded. The significantly minimum ammonia (ppm) was recorded in CRH (30.53±0.77); however, the maximum ammonia (ppm) was recorded in RH (49.78±0.42) with that compared to SD (33.42±0.25) and RS (43.22±0.56). Similarly, the mortality rate due to colisepticemia was recorded minimum in CRH (68.75%), however, the maximum was recorded in RH (86.25%) with that of compared to SD (70.00%) and RS (77.50%). It showed that CRH adsorbs ammonia produced in poultry houses reducing the immunosuppression managing susceptibility of E. coli . This proves CRH as the best poultry bedding material for the rearing of broiler chickens for better production.