• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.98-102
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• 2011

We evaluated microbial inactivation in chicken cage litter, to ensure microbial safety, using aqueous chloride dioxide. Contamination by coliforms, Escherichia coli, Listeria spp., yeasts and molds, total aerobic bacteria, and Salmonella spp. was detected in fresh cage litter, and microbial populations increased if litters were repeatedly used. Aqueous $ClO_2$ treatment (500 ppm) significantly decreased the populations of coliforms, E. coli, Listeria spp., yeasts and molds, total aerobic bacteria, and Salmonella spp. in all litter samples tested. In particular, aqueous $ClO_2$ treatment on fresh litter reduced the initial populations of coliform, E. coli, Listeria spp., yeasts and molds, and total aerobic bacteria by 4.47, 1.29, 1.23, 3.24, and 5.2 log CFU/g, respectively. In addition, when litters used for 1 and 5 weeks were tested, treatment significantly reduced microbial populations. The results suggest that aqueous $ClO_2$ treatment is useful to reduce microbial hazards in chicken cage litter and to improve the microbial safety of slaughtered chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.979-984
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Ca concentrations in low non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) diets containing phytase on growth performance, bone mineralization, litter quality, and footpad dermatitis (FPD) incidence in growing broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 1,800 21-day-old Ross 308 growing broiler chickens were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments with 6 replicated cages. Six diets were formulated to provide increasing Ca concentrations of 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, or 9.0 g/kg in diets. The concentrations of NPP in all diets were maintained at 3.0 g/kg, and phytase was supplemented to all diets at the level of 1,000 fytase units (FTU)/kg. At the end of the 14-d feeding trial, birds were euthanized for tibia sampling, and litter samples were collected from 3 areas in the cage. The FPD incidence was measured based on a 6-point scoring system. Results: Dietary Ca concentrations had no effect on growth performance of growing broiler chickens. However, a tendency (linear, p = 0.05) for decreased feed efficiency was observed as dietary Ca concentrations were increased. The concentrations of Ca and P in the tibia of broiler chickens increased (linear and quadratic, p<0.01) with increasing Ca concentrations in low NPP diets containing phytase. Litter pH, moisture, and N contents were not affected by increasing Ca concentrations in low NPP diets containing phytase. However, a tendency (quadratic, p = 0.10) for increased FPD incidence with increasing dietary Ca concentrations was observed. Conclusion: Dietary Ca concentrations from 4.0 to 9.0 g/kg in low NPP diets containing phytase have little effects on growth performance of growing broiler chickens. However, Ca and P concentrations in the tibia are decreased if dietary Ca concentrations are less than 5.0 g/kg. The FPD incidence for growing broiler chickens may be decreased if less than 9.0 g/kg of Ca is included in diets.