Utilization of Bark Residues as Poultry Litter

Five broods of broilers were raised on four different bark litters and their performance compared to broilers raised on planer shavings. Both rosserhead debarked short-leaf pine and mixed hardwood bark (50 percent yellow-poplar, 25 percent oak, 25 percent black gum) were used either directly from the debarker or after sizing by screening to give two litter conditions for each bark type. Each treatment was replicated for a total of ten trial pens and trial conditions were similar to those in a commercial poultry operation. All four bark litters and the planer shavings performed equally well as poultry litter. With the exception of litter moisture holding capacity, bark litter properties were generally comparable to those of planer shavings. Slightly higher caking tendencies were observed in pens containing stringy hardwood bark. The service life of bark with repeated use was superior to that of planer shavings. Normal growth and feed conversion were observed for broilers grown on bark litter during the five trials. No significant differences in broiler breast blisters, swollen hock joints, total downgraded birds, or mortality were observed for birds raised on bark litter. For all trials bird condemnations at the poultry processing plant were less than one percent. These results show that with proper litter management rosserhead bark can be used successfully as a poultry litter without any adverse effects on bird health and quality.

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