Study on Prevention of Breast Blister in Broilers, with Special Reference of Flooring Structures and Materials for Caged Broilers

Six experiments were conducted to study the effect of various flooring types on the incidence of breast blister in cage-reared broilers. Broilers were grown from four to ten weeks of age on each type of the experimental floor.In these experiments the incidence of breast blister was influenced by flooring types. Wire I (1.7×12.0cm) floor produced broilers with more breast blisters and more severe breast blisters than the other floor types. Broilers reared on a large mesh floor had a higher incidence of the breast blisters than broilers on small mesh floor, but less waste and feather could drop through the small mesh (1.0×1.0cm). Broilers reared on lattice type floor made of plastic pipe and bamboo had a comparatively lower incidence of breast blister. In these lattice type floors broilers reared on flat plastic pipe (splited a 32mm diameter plastic pipe in 1/4 lengthwise, and splited a 60mm diameter plastic pipe in 1/8 lengthwise) had more breast blisters than broilers on round plastic pipe (splited a 22mm diameter in 1/2 lengthwise). Broilers reared on strips spaced 1.5cm apart had significantly (P<0.01) more breast blisters than broilers on its spaced 1.0cm apart.The male broiler had a significantly (P<0.01) higher incidence of breast blisters than the female broiler in all trials.