Chopped Willamette Valley Grass Seed Straw as Alternative Litter for Broiler Production

Four experiments were conducted during spring, late fall, and winter seasons using commercial broilers to investigate the suitability of different types of chopped Willamette Valley grass seed straw as litter for broiler production. Chopped annual rye grass straw and pelleted rye grass straw are more suitable litter than chopped rye grass, fescue, and orchard grass straws. Body weights of broilers reared on chopped annual rye grass straw with stocking densities of.044,.061, and.074 m2fbroiler were not different; however, feed conversions were better (P <.05) for broilers reared at.044 and.061 densities than at.074 density. Litter caking scores were higher (P <.05) as the stocking densities were increased from.074 to.044 starting at 2 weeks. Flail mower-chopped perennial rye grass straw had less litter caking than machine-sliced perennial rye grass straw. Chopped annual rye grass straw proved to be the better litter material for broiler production when compared to the other straw types at a broiler stocking density of 074 m2. (Key words: broiler litter, straw litter, broiler stocking density