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Spatial Distribution of Death Losses in Broiler Flocks

G. T. Tabler^*, I. L. Berry, H. Xin and T. L. Barton

^* Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
Department of Poultry Science, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

Correspondence: G. T. Tabler, E-mail: gtabler{at}uark.edu

Mortality in poultry flocks continues to be a major economic loss to broiler growers and integrators. Also, disposal of dead chickens in an environmentally safe manner is becoming increasingly demanding. Accurate descriptions of mortality patterns within broiler houses may prove beneficial with respect to an overall management strategy to minimize death losses during flock growouts. To characterize mortality patterns, locations of dead chickens in four productionscale broiler houses with an east-west orientation were monitored during a 6-mo period in 1992 covering three consecutive flocks in northwest Arkansas. Overall mortality was not affected by the two different ventilation systems used (i. e., conventional cross ventilation with mist cooling in summer vs. tunnel ventilation with pad cooling in summer). Higher mortalities were observed along the north and south sidewalls and centerlines of the houses (e. g., under measurement instruments) and in areas where natural lighting was obstructed (e. g., behind ventilation fans and cooling pads).

Key Words: broiler • broiler house • conventional ventilation • death location • mortality • tunnel ventilation