Spatial Shifts in Microbial Population Structure Within Poultry Litter Associated with Physicochemical Properties

Abstract

Microbial populations within poultry litter have been largely ignored with the exception of potential human or livestock pathogens. A better understanding of the community structure and identity of the microbial populations within poultry litter could aid in the development of management practices that would reduce populations responsible for toxic air emissions and pathogen incidence. In this study, poultry litter air and physical properties were correlated to shifts in microbial community structure as analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and measured by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Litter samples were taken in a 36-point grid pattern at 5 m across and 12 m down a 146 m x 12.8 m chicken house. At each sample point, physical parameters such as litter moisture, pH, air and litter temperature, and relative humidity were recorded, and samples were taken for molecular analysis. The DGGE analysis showed that the banding pattern of samples from the back and water/feeder areas of poultry house were distinct from those of samples from other areas. There were distinct clusters of banding patterns corresponding to the front, middle front, middle back, back, and waterer/feeder areas. The PCA analysis showed similar cluster patterns, but with more distinct separation of the front and midhouse samples. The PCA analysis also showed that moisture content and litter temperature (accounting for 51.5 and 31.5% of the separation of samples, respectively) play a major role in spatial diversity of microbial community in the poultry house. Based on analysis of DGGE fingerprints and cloned DGGE band sequences, there appear to be differences in the types of microorganisms over the length of the house, which correspond to differences in the physical properties of the litter.

Influence of Covering Reused Broiler Litter with Plastic Canvas on Litter Characteristics and Bacteriology and the Subsequent Immunity and Microbiology of Broilers

“…Moreover, in the present study, the different litter abiotic parameters, including pH, moisture and temperature, were directly linked with the production of ammonia. It was shown in others studies that increases in the values of those parameters, individually or combined, triggers the production of ammonia in broiler litter (Weaver & Meijerhof, 1991;Derikx et al, 1994;Nahm, 2003;Lovanh et al, 2007;Miles et al, 2011). Average EM counts were not different among litter treatments, differently from the lethal effect of ammonia on these oocysts found by Horton et al (1940), who observed 100% death Eimeria spp.…”

The Potential of Antibiotic Alternatives for Enriching Beneficial Microbiota in Litter

“…However in this study, we evaluate the abundance of putative pioneer colonizers in the litter in an effort to explain why multiple flock cycles are usually needed to realize full effects on gut health and performance. A number of reports have described the physiology of poultry litter in regards to nitrogen and carbon cycling including the major microbial groups involved in the processes [37,46,55]. But it is not known how these processes affect persistence or abundance of pathogens or of intestinal bacteria that may be important as pioneer colonizers for chicks.…”

“…Members of the Actinobacteria are likely involved in the decomposition of organic material like wood shavings [45]. They have been found to be key microbes for composting of litter in culture-based studies [37,46] and the shift in bacterial communities over multiple production cycles is not unexpected given the physical differences between fresh and used litter.…”

Poultry litter of wood shavings and/or sugarcane bagasse: animal performance and bed quality

“…The type of litter material and litter handling can also influence ammonia release (Sampaio et al ., 1999). While poultry litter is a valuable fertilizer for several crops, its usefulness can be reduced if significant nitrogen loss from ammonia volatilization occurs (Lovanh et al ., 2007).…”