Journal
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POULTRY RESEARCH
Volume 23, Issue 4, Pages 625-638Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.3382/japr.2014-00960
Keywords
windrowing; Sodium Hydroxide; bacteria; litter; ammonia; temperature
Categories
Funding
- United States Poultry and Egg Association
- University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In-house windrowing of broiler litter between flocks has been adopted by producers to reduce pathogens and improve litter quality before chick placement. In this study, 5 consecutive windrow trials were conducted in commercial broiler houses for their effect on litter bacterial populations, organic matter stabilization, cumulative ammonia emissions, and nutrient transformation and compared with litter conditioning (tilling) in adjacent houses. No significant reduction of Clostridium spp. and Escherichia coli populations was found in windrowed litter from d 0 to 7. No significant difference of 7-d mortality was found between windrow and nonwindrow houses. The windrowed house resulted in better foot quality than the nonwindrowed house from 1 of 3 scored flocks. Water-soluble phosphorus increased in both windrowed and nonwindrowed litter; therefore, appreciable biotic and abiotic activity occurred in litter with both treatments after flocks were removed. Overall, no negative effect of windrow treatments on litter quality for agronomic applications was observed. Both the control and windrow treatments resulted in a decrease in litter moisture content (2 to 5%) likely beneficial to bird health conditions. High ammonia emissions persisted after windrow spreading; therefore, a need may exist for an extended period of ventilation or a litter amendment as crucial before chick placement. Litter amendment at a low dose was effective in lowering ammonia concentrations after windrowing and was more economical comparing to operating fans in winter conditions.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available