Influence of different litter types on ammonia and carbon dioxide emission in broiler production

Abstract

Harmful gases, such as ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2), affect both birds and workers involved in broiler production. Five hundred and seventy-six one-day-old ROSS 308 broilers were reared on six types of litter (Treatment 1: chopped wheat straw; treatment 2: wood shavings; treatment 3: mixture of 1/3 chopped wheat straw, 1/3 wood shavings and 1/3 peat; treatment 4: wheat straw pellets; treatment 5: softwood pellets and treatment 6: pellets of 1/3 wheat straw, 1/3 wood shavings and 1/3 peat). Using chamber emission of harmful gases, NH3 and CO2 were measured weekly for each treatment. The results showed that the critical level of NH3 was reached for the first time on day 28. By the end of the rearing period, NH3 concentrations were above the permitted value in all the treatments, with no significant difference between treatments (P > 0.05). The carbon dioxide values did not exceed the critical level during the fattening period. Litter types made no significant difference (P > 0.05) to carbon dioxide concentrations. The type of litter significantly affected the final body weight. This paper describes the influence of different materials and material combinations used as litter in broiler production. As birds are in constant contact with the litter, careful selection, appropriate management and proper storage and use of poultry litter contributes to improving in-house air quality and reducing air emissions from animal production facilities.