Alternative Bedding Materials for Poultry: Availability, Efficacy, and Major Constraints

Siaka Diarra; Sonny Lameta; Falaniko Amosa; Sanjay Anand

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.669504

Alternative Bedding Materials for Poultry: Availability, Efficacy, and Major Constraints

Front Vet Sci. 2021 Aug 17:8:669504. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.669504. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Siaka Diarra¹, Sonny Lameta¹, Falaniko Amosa¹, Sanjay Anand¹

Affiliation

¹ School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Apia, Samoa.

Abstract

The increasing demand of wood shavings (WS) and sawdust (SD) by other industries and growing concerns of potential chemical contaminants from wood products have amplified research interest in alternative bedding materials for commercial poultry. Several alternative materials-corn cob (CC), straws (ST) and hays (HA), sand (SA), shredded papers (SP), rice hulls (RH), peanut hulls (PH), and gypsum (CaSO_4.2H₂O₂)-can replace conventional ones in poultry houses, depending on availability, cost, and ability to absorb and adsorb moisture and provide the birds enough room to exhibit their natural behaviors. Alternative materials hold a brighter future as bedding materials, but more studies about their physicochemical properties and litter management practices for optimum poultry welfare are recommended.

Keywords: bedding material; bird welfare; housing systems; poultry production; product quality.

Publication types

Review