Ammonia Control in Broiler Houses F. N. REECE, B. J BATES, and B. D. LOTT . The poultry litter has an average pH of 8.0 – 9.0, this is considered a high pH or alkaline. Ammonia management in poultry production. When ammonia gas is exposed to moisture, it reacts and forms a basic, corrosive solution called ammonium. Li said that there are several products on the market to control ammonia in poultry houses and alum is the preferred product for growers … South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Science and Education Administration, Federal Research, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 (Received for publication September 25, 1978) ABSTRACT Poultry litter on which one group of broiler chickens … Poultry manure and its nitrogenous compounds can be a potential pollutant causing eutrophication, nitrate or nitrite contamination of water, ammonia volatilisation and acid deposition in the air. The goal for most producers is either to avoid high concentrations of ammonia in the first place, or to control induced inflammations and minimize the impacts on bird health and performance. Purpose: Poultry Guard is applied to the surface of the litter in the brood chamber to lower the pH of the top of the litter and control ammonia. The result is economic loss to the grower and integrator. In poultry, urease is excreted with uric acid. Poultry litter is re-used for succeeding broiler flocks to reduce the running cost since bedding / litter material have become costlier these days, so there will be greater environment stress and challenge to control ammonia problem. Safety Procedures and Protective gear: Wear gloves, eye protection and dust mask. Wear long sleeve shirt and pants that cover boots. Undigested feed protein and wasted feed are additional sources of ammonia in animal production systems. Ammonia is a pungent gas that irritates the eyes and respiratory system and can reduce re­sistance to infection in poultry. Poultry house ammonia levels often range from 50 to over 200 ppm. Sodium bisulfate ( PLT® litter acidifier , Jones-Hamilton Co.) is commonly used in poultry houses to reduce harmful ammonia emissions, offering a better in … Cover shoes with plastic boots or wear rubber boots. Control of ammonia and dust levels in poultry houses may become very necessary for reduced transmission of infectious disease, such as avian influenza, and improved health. Proper poultry house ventilation and litter management can be used to control ammonia levels. It is now common for company advisory personnel to have these instruments for spot checks or sharing with producers to troubleshoot a poultry house environment control system. This aqueous ammonium solution causes harm to birds. In livestock facilities, ammonia results primarily from the breakdown of urea (present in urine) by the enzyme urease (excreted in feces). Therefore, reducing nitrogen excretion and emissions in poultry manure by nutritional strategies is important to maintain a clean environment. At high-enough concentrations (above 10 ppm), ammonia will reduce feed efficiency and growth while increasing mortality and carcass condemnations. Ammonia control is most important during the first 14-21 days of the bird’s life, with the first 7 days being the most critical when chicks and poults are most susceptible to ammonia damage. Unused nitrogen is excreted as uric acid (80%), ammonia (10%), and urea (5%). For a turkey or chicken, ammonia effects are seen from day one, so it is vital to choose a litter amendment that works immediately. PLT ® for Poultry Litter Ammonia Control. The problem is compounded as bird densities and litter reuse increase, and layout times decrease. Ammonia Emission Control Strategies for Livestock Housing. Ammonia and Poultry Ammonia in a poultry house comes from the birds themselves. Here are five ways to reduce ammonia levels in poultry houses: Fortunately, easy-to-use and relatively inexpensive instruments are available for measuring ammonia level in poultry environments.