ammonia emissions to the atmosphere, improving animal and worker welfare, as well as reducing animal disease and performance losses. Plant-based feed additives have proven positive effects on reducing ammonia emissions. These plant bioactive com- pounds improve the animal’s ability to digest, absorb and retain dietary nitrogen content. As a result, less nitrogen is excreted (lost) in the manure, meaning that there is also less urea and undigested faecal protein content in the waste. Consequently, fewer nitrogen substrates are available to be converted into ammonia. Furthermore, specific phytogenic compounds can act directly on the manure by inhibiting urease activity, leading to low urease action, so that less urea will be broken down to produce ammonia.
Tried and tested In a long-term study at the Performing Nature Research Center (PNRC), a research institute in the Czech Republic owned by Delacon, various in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to acquire new data on the effects of phyto- genic compounds in terms of mitigating gas emissions. Promsing results were seen with both broilers and pigs. Measurements carried out with animals housed in 12 identi- cal hermetically-sealed enclosures with their own climate sys- tem showed that although the ammonia output increased quickly in the grower phase, it was possible to inhibit its de- velopment through phytogenic feed additives. In this long-term study in broilers the ammonia concentration re- mained at an average level without any adverse effects on
animal performance. The result was a 35% reduction in am- monia on day 35 and a 24% reduction over the whole cycle (Figure 1).
All round gains Phytogenic bioactive compounds provide natural and effec- tive solutions for mitigating ammonia emissions originating from poultry and pig production. It offers a win-win situation which ensures animal, worker and environmental welfare, whereby animal performance is maintained or even im- proved while reducing the risk of ammonia-related respirato- ry diseases. And by acting locally, producers play an essential role in reducing the atmospheric release of ammonia globally and thus contribute to a less polluted and healthier planet.
Figure 1 - NH3
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
0 0 5 10 15 20 Broiler age (days) ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 8, 2021 41 25 30 35 emissions in a broiler cycle and
the effect of phytogenics. Control
Phytogenics
Phytogenic feed additives have a proven positive effect on reduc- ing ammonia emissions.
–35 %
NH3 emission (mg/h)
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