Effect of litter and dietary amendments on ammonia concentration, broiler performance and litter quality in winter

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of sodium bisulphate in litter and low protein diet with protease on ammonia concentration, broiler performance and litter quality in winter season (December-January). Two hundred and forty day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups. Control group (Tc) had no dietary and litter amendments and other three included, litter amendment with sodium bisulphate (Ts), dietary amendment with low protein supplemented with protease enzyme (Tp) and both dietary and litter amendment (Tsp). The findings of the study revealed a significant (p £ 0.05) higher ammonia concentration in control group as compared to treatment groups. The average body weight was significantly higher in Ts group followed by Tsp group, Tp and control (Tc) group at 42 days of age. Best FCR was observed in litter amended (Ts) group. Sodium bisulphate decreased the pH and moisture content of the litter in both the treatments where it was used which seems to be the reason for low ammonia concentration, and improved gain in weight, FCR and low mortality. It can be concluded that the addition of sodium bisulphate in litter can significantly reduce the ammonia concentration, and improve growth rate and litter quality in broilers.

The effect of an acidified‐gypsum mixture on broiler litter urease‐producing bacteria and nitrogen mineralization

“…Approximately 50–80% of this N can be lost as ammonia gas (NH 3 ) (Moore et al., 2011; Ritz et al., 2004; Sims & Wolf, 1994), which decreases the fertilizer value of the manure (Choi & Moore, 2008; DeLaune et al., 2004; Nahm et al., 2003). The largest concern associated with NH 3 volatilization from broiler litter is its impact on bird health (Anderson et al., 1964; Beker et al., 2004; Miles et al., 2002; Proch et al., 2018), which decreases the profitability of the broiler farm. For example, NH 3 concentrations above 50 ppmv (ppm by volume) have caused ocular abnormalities (Miles et al., 2006), decreased feed conversion (Ritz et al., 2017), and increased susceptibility to Newcastle virus (Anderson et al., 1964) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Sato et al., 1973).…”