Nutritional and managemental strategies to reduce ammonia emission from poultry house

Author: Aqib Hussain

M.Sc (HONS.) Animal Nutrition

University of Sargodha 

Abstract:

Numerous researches have been conducted to present the appropriate method to minimize ammonia emission from poultry houses. These include better housing and ventilation system as well as the use of different kinds of chemicals as well.  AFS system is considered good for this purpose. Soy hulls in diets can also reduce ammonia generation. Aluminosilicates is a good source to reduce ammonia concentration, especially in winter. Changing feeding and watering strategy can also reduce ammonia generation. 

Introduction:   

Ammonia emission is a great deal to be discussed. Its higher concentration can increase mortality as well as causes disease. It should be minimized as much as we can. So, it’s always considered a great matter to be discussed. This review will discuss the numerous methods to reduce ammonia concentration from poultry houses. Our focus is to minimize Ammonia as much as we can from poultry sheds to increase production and save birds from many diseases.  Different nutritional and managemental strategies discussed here.  

Discussion:                 

Concentration of Ammonia can be reduced by many methods like manure management, dietary approaches. If we improve ventilation in our sheds then ammonia can easily reduce. But this technique is not useful in cold weathers mostly. We can also use a buffer tree around laying hen house. Also, ammonia concentration can be minimized by the use of post and pre-excretion strategies. We can use crystalline Amino acids instead od Soyabean meal with corn in diets to reduced ammonia produced by poultry. A typical mineral known as Zeolite can be used as an additive in diets. This can bind ammonia in faeces and making it unavailable to the air. Gypsum and calcium Benzoate can also be used to acidify diet or also by making low level of electrolyte balance. If we include Soya Hulls in diets of Laying hens then it can reduce the emission of ammonia.[1]

                   Emission of ammonia can also reduce by a system known as   AFS [Avi-home flooring system] by water evaporation from manure. [2]

                   As we can decrease ammonia by various methods, one of the methods is to add some kind of chemical preparation to litter, it also reduces other gases too. Aluminosilicates thought to be a good one, especially in winter when ammonia is a big problem due to poor ventilation. Superphosphate and Vermiculate can also be used but they are not satisfactory. Spray scrubber can also capture ammonia. Bio trickling filter can also be used. But it can consume high energy. Sodium Bentonite and Zeolite can be used as natural sorbents of ammonia. For ammonia reduction 2% bentonite and 1% Zeolite is considered good for a reduction of 30%. [3]

                   Ammonia can be decreased from poultry house by capturing it in a litter by using some chemicals and also decrease it by balancing the activity of the enzyme in a litter. Urease inhibitor is found beneficial in reducing ammonia concentration when applied with layer faeces. Dietary manipulation of Phosphor diamides and Phosphorotriamides is useful in this regard. In broiler Urease activity can be affected by lower moisture content (13-17%) of the litter because hydrogen ions are less. Ammonia concentration can be reduced by urease inhibitor from layer faeces after 1^st application for 7^th day.[4].

                   Nitrogen excretion in poultry can be reduced by supplementation of Keto or hydroxy analogues along with a diet of low protein. NH3 transformation is said to be beneficial in this regard to reduce volatilization of NH3 by nitrification through nitrifying bacteria. NH3 concentration can be reduced by improving the quality of air through ventilation in the broiler. Also, by improving the system of heat. Using nipple drinkers instead of bell drinkers in broilers reduce N losses and also if we use litter of shaving woods, that can reduce NH3. N and P can be reduced (10-33%) by feeding phase in laying hens. Different Zinc level treatments in diets of laying hens cause reduction of NH3 volatilization. [5].

                   Extract of Yucca Schidigeru, 40. Availa-Zn can reduce ammonia and cause a positive effect on the health of birds, and also helpful in reducing mortality. [6].

                   Ammonia volatilization can be reduced by alum, ferrous sulphate and Phosphoric acid from litter. [7]

 

 

 

Conclusion:      

Ammonia emission is a great matter of fact. It not only harmful to birds but also to workers. It needs to be minimized. It should be minimized that it should not increase our cost much. Extract of some plants, use of certain chemicals, litter amendments, use of an enzyme, improve ventilation and housing system, improve heat system etc., all methods can help in ammonia reduction. These methods should be applied in such a way that it saves our cost as well as increase production and reduction in mortality. We should also conduct an ammonia concentration test to find out the amount of ammonia in poultry house then should apply the appropriate method to reduce it.

 

 

 

References:

[1]     T. Submitted and P. Fulfillment, “Nutritional strategies to control,” no. May, 2007.

 

 [2]    A. Boggia, L. Paolotti, P. Antegiovanni, F. F. Fagioli, and L. Rocchi, “Managing ammonia emissions using no-litter flooring system for broilers: Environmental and economic analysis,” Environ. Sci. Policy, vol. 101, no. July, pp. 331–340, 2019, DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.09.005.

 

[3]     Ł. Wlazło, B. Nowakowicz-Dębek, J. Kapica, M. Kwiecień, and H. Pawlak, “Removal of ammonia from poultry manure by aluminosilicates,” J. Environ. Manage., vol. 183, pp. 722–725, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.09.028.

 

 

[4]     A. Singh, K. D. Casey, W. D. King, A. J. Pescatore, R. S. Gates, and M. J. Ford, “Efficacy of urease inhibitor to reduce ammonia emission from poultry houses,” J. Appl. Poult. Res., vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 34–42, 2009, DOI: 10.3382/japr.2008-00046.

 

[5]     H. M. Salim, P. H. Patterson, S. C. Ricke, and W. K. Kim, “Enhancement of microbial nitrification to reduce ammonia emission from poultry manure: A review,” Worlds. Poult. Sci. J., vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 839–856, 2014, DOI: 10.1017/S0043933914000890.

 

[6]     M. Le, “Effect of litter density and foot health program on,” no. March 2018, DOI: 10.3382/japr/pfx058/4633983.

 

[7]     P. A. Moore, T. C. Daniel, D. R. Edwards, and D. M. Miller, “Evaluation of chemical amendments to reduce ammonia volatilization from poultry litter,” Poult. Sci., vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 315–320, 1996, DOI: 10.3382/ps.0750315.