This study evaluated the potential of trees planted around commercial poultry farms to trap ammonia (NH 3 ) and dust or particulate matter (PM). Norway spruce, Spike hybrid poplar, hybrid willow, and Streamco purpleosier willow were planted on five commercial farms from 2003 to 2004. Plant foliage was sampled in front of the exhaust fans and at a control distance away from the fans on one turkey, two laying hen, and two broiler chicken farms between June and July 2006. Samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and PM content. In addition, NH 3 concentrations were measured downwind of the exhaust fans among the trees and at a control distance using NH 3 passive dosi-tubes. Foliage samples were taken and analyzed separately based on plant species. The two layer farms had both spruce and poplar plantings whereas the two broiler farms had hybrid willow and Streamco willow plantings which allowed sampling and species comparisons with the effect of plant location (control vs. fan). The results showed that NH 3 concentration h − 1 was reduced by distance from housing fans (P ≤ 0.0001), especially between 0 m (12.01 ppm), 11.4 m (2.59 ppm), 15 m (2.03 ppm), and 30 m (0.31 ppm). Foliar N of plants near the fans was greater than those sampled away from the fans for poplar (3.87 vs. 2.56%; P ≤ 0.0005) and hybrid willow (3.41 vs. 3.02%; P ≤ 0.05). The trends for foliar N in spruce (1.91 vs. 1.77%; P = 0.26) and Streamco willow (3.85 vs. 3.33; P = 0.07) were not significant. Pooling results of the four plant species indicated greater N concentration from foliage sampled near the fans than of that away from the fans (3.27 vs. 2.67%; P ≤ 0.0001). Foliar DM concentration was not affected by plant location, and when pooled the foliar DM of the four plant species near the fans was 51.3% in comparison with 48.5% at a control distance. There was a significant effect of plant location on foliar N and DM on the two layer farms with greater N and DM adjacent to fans than at a control distance (2.95 vs. 2.15% N and 45.4 vs. 38.2% DM, respectively). There were also significant plant species effects on foliar N and DM with poplar retaining greater N (3.22 vs. 1.88%) and DM (43.7 vs. 39.9%) than spruce. The interaction of location by species (P ≤ 0.005) indicated that poplar was more responsive in terms of foliar N, but less responsive for DM than spruce. The effect of location and species on foliar N and DM were not clear among the two willow species on the broiler farms. Plant location had no effect on plant foliar PM weight, but plant species significantly influenced the ability of the plant foliage to trap PM with spruce and hybrid willow showing greater potential than poplar and Streamco willow for PM 2.5 (0.0054, 0.0054, 0.0005, and 0.0016 mg cm − 2 ; P ≤ 0.05) and total PM (0.0309, 0.0102, 0.0038, and 0.0046 mg cm − 2 , respectively; P ≤ 0.001). Spruce trapped more dust compared to the other three species (hybrid willow, poplar, and Streamco willow) for PM 10 (0.0248 vs. 0.0036 mg cm − 2 ; P ≤ 0.0001) and PM ...

Oil extraction from the palm kernel produces a large amount of palm kernel meal (PKM), a by-product having considerable potential nutritive value for poultry. Increasing its use and improving its nutritive value in poultry diets is especially important in palm oil-producing countries. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of the inclusion level of PKM in laying hen diets on egg production and egg quality. One hundred eighty 48-wk-old native laying hens were assigned to 180 cages (1 bird per cage) in a curtain-sided house. Diets were assigned at random to 15 cages each. The experimental diets resulted from a factorial combination of 3 levels of PKM (0, 15, and 30%), 2 levels of a fiber-degrading enzyme [0 and 15 units of β-glucanase (major enzyme) activity/kg of diet; Ronozyme VP, DSM Nutritional Products Inc., Basel, Switzerland], and 2 levels of phytase + protease mixture [0 and 2,000 units of phytase (Ronozyme NP) + 12,500 units of protease (Ronozyme ProAct) activity/kg of diet; both products of DSM Nutritional Products Inc.]. Diets were isocaloric (2,758 kcal of ME/kg) and contained 17.51 to 18.39% CP, and were provided ad libitum together with water for the 6-wk trial. Six-week feed intake increased as the PKM level increased (3,573 vs. 3,791 vs. 4,022 g/hen for the hens fed 0, 15, and 30% PKM, respectively; P ≤ 0.008). Levels of PKM did not affect egg production, feed conversion, or egg weight. Egg quality traits (albumen height, Haugh units, eggshell thickness, and egg surface area) of hens fed 15 or 30% PKM were comparable with those fed the 0% PKM (corn and soybean meal) except that yolk color was paler when the PKM diets were fed (8.15 vs. 7.08 vs. 5.61 for the hens fed 0, 15, and 30% PKM, respectively; P ≤ 0.0001). Because PKM inclusion resulted in no deleterious effects on egg production and quality, no effects of enzyme supplementation could be measured. Depending on consumer preference, a carotenoid source may be needed when PKM is included in the diet at levels of 15% or above.

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This study sought to evaluate the potential of trees planted around commercial poultry farms to trap ammonia (NH(3)), the gas of greatest environmental concern to the poultry industry. Four plant species (Norway spruce, Spike hybrid poplar, Streamco willow, and hybrid willow) were planted on eight commercial farms from 2003 to 2004. Because temperature (T) can be a stressor for trees, T was monitored in 2005 with data loggers among the trees in front of the exhaust fans (11.4 to 17.7 m) and at a control distance away from the fans (48 m) during all four seasons in Pennsylvania. Norway spruce (Picea abies) foliage samples were taken in August 2005 from one turkey and two layer farms for dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) analysis. The two layer farms had both Norway spruce and Spike hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides x Populus nigra) plantings sampled as well allowing comparisons of species and the effect of plant location near the fans versus a control distance away. Proximity to the fans had a clear effect on spruce foliar N with greater concentrations downwind of the fans than at control distances (3.03 vs. 1.88%; P < or = 0.0005). Plant location was again a significant factor for foliar N of both poplar and spruce on the two farms with both species showing greater N adjacent to the fans compared to the controls (3.75 vs. 2.32%; P < or = 0.0001). Pooled foliar DM of both plants was also greater among those near the fans (56.17, fan vs. 44.67%, control; P < or = 0.005). Species differences were also significant showing the potential of poplar to retain greater foliar N than spruce (3.52 vs. 2.55%; P < or = 0.001) with less DM (46.00 vs. 54.83%; P < or = 0.05) in a vegetative buffer setting. The results indicated plants were not stressed by the T near exhaust fans with mean seasonal T (13.04 vs. 13.03 degrees C, respectively) not significantly different from controls. This suggested poultry house exhaust air among the trees near the fans would not result in dormancy stressors on the plants compared to controls away from the fans.

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