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[[Image:Chook2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A broiler dust bathing in wood shaving litter]] '''Project Title:''' Role of voluntary litter consumption by broiler chickens on gut function and gut health 

'''Project Leader:''' [[Svihus, Birger|Svihus]] at [[Organisations#Norwegian_University_of_Life_Sciences_.28Universitetet_for_milj.C3.B8-_og_biovitenskap_-_UMB.29|NULS]] and [[Wu, Shubiao|Wu]] at [[Organisations#University_of_New_England_.28UNE.29|UNE]] funded by [[Poultry CRC]] (Project 06-18) 

'''Duration of Project:''' Now completed (1 July 2006 to 30 June 2009) 

=== Project overview  ===

The global trend of a move away from in-feed antibiotics and coccidiostats is forcing feed and livestock industries worldwide to explore and develop alternative, sustainable systems without using such additives. This project is a follow up of a [[Research/Dustbath materials for health and welfare in layers|previous Poultry CRC project]] which demonstrated that access to litter (bedding) materials enhances gut development, which, in turn, affects the health and performance of the birds. 

Experiments in both Norway and Australia are investigating the consumption of different types of litter by broiler chickens and turkeys on feed intake and growth performance, gizzard function and gut development, nutrient digestibility and gut microflora. Hopefully, the knowledge gained will be useful for optimising housing conditions and feed composition in the poultry industries in both Norway and Australia, helping them move towards a more sustainable production of poultry meat with minimal changes to current production practices. 

==== Project objectives  ====

*Investigate the consumption of different types of litter by broiler chickens and turkeys on feed intake and growth performance, gizzard function and gut development, nutrient digestibility and gut microflora.

=== Project progress  ===

This project has been completed and the Final Report will soon be available from the [[Poultry CRC]]. 

== See also  ==

*[[Research/Dustbath materials for health and welfare in layers|Poultry CRC Project 03-27: Dustbath materials for health and welfare in layers]] 
*[[Research/Understanding gut function and gut health of chickens|Poultry CRC Project 05-02: Understanding gut function and gut health of chickens]] 
*[[Poultry litter]]

[[Category:Research_&_Development]] [[Category:Anatomy_and_physiology]] [[Category:Chicken_meat_industry]] [[Category:Poultry_feed_and_nutrition]] [[Category:Bird_health_and_disease]]