The Influence of the Mineral–Microbial Deodorizing Preparation on Ammonia Emission and Growth Performance in Turkey Production

Abstract

In our previous in vitro research and also in laying hen production, attempts were made to minimise ammonia emissions in poultry houses with the use of Deodoric® biopreparation. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the influence of the Deodoric® on ammonia (NH3) emission and turkey growth performance in a semi-industrial production system. Significant differences in NH3 emission (p-value < 0.001), body weight (p-value < 0.001) and relative humidity (p-value < 0.001) were observed between the control group (C) and the experimental group (E) where Deodoric® was applied. In group C, an increase in ammonia concentration in air could have contributed to a decrease in the body weight of turkeys, but the above correlation was not observed in group E. In the control group, a relatively strong correlation between NH3 emission and temperature (p-value = 0.0009; r = 0.74) and moderate correlations between NH3 emission vs. relative humidity (p-value = 0.01; r = 0.59), air speed (p-value = 0.015; r = 0.60) and cooling (p-value = 0.005; r = 0.66) were noted. Studied correlations were not observed in group E. The preparation did not affect microbial levels in manure or body samples. Throughout the experiment, significant differences in the number of mesophilic bacteria (for the model: F = 46.14, p-value = 0.09; for mesophilic microorganisms: F = 3.29, p-value = 0.045) and Campylobacter spp. (for the model: F = 24.96, p-value = 0.008; for Campylobacter spp.: F = 0.25, p-value = 0.64) were not observed between group C and group E. The administration of Deodoric® to manure decreased NH3 concentration in the air and increased weight gains in the experimental group of turkeys relative to group C. Preparation may be applied in poultry farms to improve poultry farming conditions.

Effect of a Mineral–Microbial Deodorizing Preparation on the Functions of Internal Organs and the Immune System in Commercial Poultry

“…Suppression of ammonia production from such operations is essential because high concentrations of odorous gases derived from agriculture and animal production have adverse effects on both the natural environment and living organisms, as confirmed in multiple earlier studies [9,13,[23][24][25][26]. The present study continues earlier experiments [10,17] and, emulating the conditions in those, the birds from all experimental groups were kept under the same zoohygienic standards and these were appropriate for the rearing process.…”

“…The Deodoric biopreparation merges a microbiological component with a mineral component and was developed to reduce emissions of ammonia and other volatile odorous gases in poultry houses [ 18 ]. Gałęcki et al [ 10 , 17 ] have demonstrated that Deodoric sprinkled on litter where various species and types of poultry were housed had a positive effect on bird welfare principally by reducing ammonia concentration and humidity in poultry houses. Suppression of ammonia production from such operations is essential because high concentrations of odorous gases derived from agriculture and animal production have adverse effects on both the natural environment and living organisms, as confirmed in multiple earlier studies [ 9 , 13 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…The designed experimental conditions and the high efficiency of the ventilation system enabled the average ammonia concentration to be maintained at 7 to 26 ppm [ 10 , 17 ]. The only difference between the control and experimental groups was the use of the mineral-microbial preparation on the litter.…”

“…Once a week, poultry houses was supplied with the same amount of fresh dry wheat straw. In the experimental group, Deodoric ® was applied to litter once a week in a dose of 180 g/m 2 [ 17 ].…”

“…Previous studies and analyses of animal husbandry parameters have shown the mineral–microbial deodorant Deodoric (University of Technology, Lodz, Poland) to be effective in reducing the concentration of odorous gases [ 10 , 17 ]. This background suggested the undertaking of a study to determine the impact of applying Deodoric to litter in poultry houses on the functioning of avian internal organs and the immune system.…”