HEAL ▶▶▶TH
New take on tackling litter management
Maintaining good litter quality is essential to poultry health and welfare but also a constant challenge. A new take on litter management using the latest probiotic technology in feed can help to support favourable in-house conditions.
BY TERRY PARROTT AND DR JORDON GRUBER, DUPONT L
itter management is a vital part of the day-to-day running of poultry farms. Without effective control measures in place, litter quality can quickly deterio- rate and create a poor environment where the birds
struggle to thrive. From foot, leg and respiratory problems, to increased risk of disease and mortality, the consequences of substandard litter conditions are far reaching and costly. High levels of ammonia resulting from poor quality litter is of par- ticular concern. Firstly, because it is an indication of greater proliferation of pathogenic bacterial groups which can impair bird health and performance. But also due to the fact that
elevated ammonia emissions contribute to poor air quality, increasing environmental concerns and reducing the fertilizer value of litter. With studies suggesting that producers can lose up to US$1,000 per flock due to issues related to poor lit- ter quality, tackling this problem is a priority. To do so effec- tively, however, it’s important to understand the key factors influencing litter conditions.
Governing factors In a poor litter scenario, the litter is wet with elevated levels of pH and microbial growth (see Illustration). All three aspects are interrelated and need to be controlled in order to create the optimum environment for poultry production. This is be- cause excess moisture in litter increases water activity (aW) to a level that is favourable for the proliferation of common pathogens, such as Salmonella and
E.coli, as well as ammo- nia-producing bacteria. Equally critical is the raised alkaline pH value of the litter which, at between 7.0 to 9.5 due to the accumulation of ammonia and fecal material, is ideal for micro-organism growth and ammonia volatilization. Undigested nutrients in the excreta is another important fac- tor to consider in this context. Left unchecked, these can cause litter to become less friable and increase the moisture
▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 10, 2020
A combined analysis of 12 commercial broiler houses, for example, demonstrated tangible im- provements to bird growth and a marked reduc- tion in feed costs as a result of improved litter quality.
PHOTO: MORTEN LARSEN
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