Explore all the information onPoultry litter
Poultry litter is the mix of bedding material, manure and feathers that result from intensive poultry production. This includes litter from meat chickens (broilers), egg-laying chickens (layers) kept under barn conditions, turkeys, ducks and quails. Poultry bedding material consists of wood shavings, pine straw, peanut hulls, and other absorbent dry low-cost materials and is another possible source of pathogenic contamination for poultry. It is generally recommended that farmers keep litter as dry as possible, replace the top layer of the litter with a new one, and apply acid-based litter amendments. Keeping litter dry is a critical part of overall management on every poultry farm. Litter conditions influence bird performance, which in turn affects profits of growers and integrators. Dry litter helps control ammonia levels, provides a healthy flock environment, and reduces condemnations due to hock and footpad burns and breast blisters.
Introduction Many parameters such as temperature and humidity affect environmental conditions within a poultry house. Heat and cold stresses, wet litter and ammonia emissions are among the extreme conditions adversely affecting the poultry performance (Al-Homidan et al., 2003). The two later factors are associated with another factor termed stocking density as a debating issue in intensive poultry production (Dozier et al., 2006; Estevez, 2007). Increasing stocking density is an...
Joseph Hess (Auburn University) explained how this method works and the advantages it provides for the prevention of poultry diseases, during IPPE 2018 in Atlanta, USA....
Brian Fairchild (University of Georgia) explained the findings of his research on the correlation of litter moisture results between the traditional drying method and a commercial moisture meter, during IPPE 2018 in Atlanta, USA....
Introduction Agricultural dust is generated in animal production facilities (Cambra-Lopez et al., 2010). Inhalation exposure to agricultural dust induces pulmonary inflammation and can lead to the development of chronic respiratory diseases (Palmberg et al., 1998; Redente and Massengale, 2006; Poole and Romberger, 2012). Several studies have demonstrated that agricultural workers, particularly poultry workers, have a...
Introduction The poultry industry has been able to develop high-level technologies in these more than one hundred years of existence, reaching high zootechnical results. These advances have been obtained through a lot of financial investment in ambience, making the handling work more efficient. However, to offset this economic contribution, the producers were taken to increase the population density in aviary, mainly broiler chickens, currently one of the most discussed and...
Efficacy of using Silvafeed® Nutri P plant extract to improve poultry feet quality and welfare Footpad dermatitis (FPD) has become a major issue for broiler industry in recent years. The development of necrotic lesions on the feet can strongly impair the welfare of poultry. Moreover, it can affect animal productivity and the quality of chicken feet, causing important economic losses (Mayne et al,...
1. Introduction Modern American agriculture has become successful in producing food security despite having less than 1% of the US population actually listing farming as their occupation [1]. The US Census of Agriculture estimates that 8.6 billion broiler chickens, 107 million turkeys, 96 million beef cattle, and 68 million pigs were sold for meat in 2007 with an additional 350 million laying hens and 79 million dairy cows producing eggs and milk [1]. Eighteen to 36 kg of manure...
Introduction Measures need to be taken in the Netherlands to reduce emissions of fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5) from major emission sources, including poultry houses with litter, to comply with European standards on maximum fine dust concentrations in the ambient air. The contribution of animal houses, especially poultry houses, to the total primary emission of PM in the Netherlands is estimated to be approximately 20% (CBS...
Casey Ritz, Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Georgia, talked about techniques and management practices to comply with regulations in processing poultry litter, during IPPE 2017 in Atlanta, USA....
Joseph Hess, Professor and Extension Specialist at Auburn University, talked about moisture in poultry litter, water quality, and environmental concerns, during IPPE 2017 in Atlanta, USA....
This publication outlines the information needed to develop a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) for dry poultry litter operations. The information collected from this checklist can be used in the CNMP Generator computer software developed by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. CNMP Generator software is available from county Extension agents and other state agricultural agency personnel. Completing a CNMP using the...
Good litter management and proper ventilation are critical to preventing footpad dermatitis (FPD) and maintaining health in poultry flocks. Footpad dermatitis first became an issue for the poultry industry in the 1980s, but it surely existed long before that time. The condition is known by a variety of names, including pododermatitis and contact dermatitis. It is characterized by inflammation and ulcers on the footpad and toes. The sores can be shallow or deep....
A free workshop will be offered to International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) attendees on the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is sponsoring this free session to provide a basic overview of TRI reporting as well as offer greater details on intricate aspects of the reporting requirements that are routinely confusing and ambiguous due to the lack of endorsed guidance.
This program will be held from 8 – 10:00...
Poultry manure fertilizer contains all the essential nutrients required for crop production, and its value as an organic fertilizer and a source of plant nutrients has been recognized for centuries. Even with its beneficial effects on plant growth, however, manure constitutes only a small percentage of the nutrients applied to cropland when compared to commercial fertilizer. Poultry manure fertilizer is not used to its maximum...
1. Introduction The occurrence of ‘wet litter’ in meat chicken sheds is associated with concerns regarding animal welfare, flock health, food safety, environmental impacts and reductions in production efficiency. Mitigating wet litter will only be achieved when there is thorough understanding of the multidimensional causal factors. This will require a multidisciplinary approach to understand the hydrology in...
Does anybody have experience in poultry litter gasification for the generation of electrical energy? Any supplier that has equipment already installed? What are the pros and cons? What is biochar?
Thanks!...
On November 14-16, 2016, the UGA Cold Weather Management Workshop will be conducted at the Oconee County Civic Center in Watkinsville, Georgia, a few miles from the University of Georgia. This intensive training program has been specifically designed for those who want to learn more about the design and management of modern poultry houses. The workshop consists of lectures as well as hands on group exercises designed to help attendees gain a firm understanding of the principles...
INTRODUCTION There are several challenges associated with maintaining profitability in large tom turkey production. Among these are choosing the commercial genotype or strain that optimizes feed conversion ratio (FCR), ending weight (EW) and breast yield according to each company’s market needs. There have been concerns with “skeletal weakness” in commercial toms for over 40 years. In 1971 the National...
Dr. Susan Watkins, University of Arkansas Poultry Extension Specialist, was presented with the 2016 Industry Leader of the Year Award by The Poultry Federation at the 57th Annual Poultry Festival held June 17-18 in Rogers, AR.
Dr. Susan Watkins has served as the Poultry Extension Specialist for...
Excess moisture in poultry houses causes both welfare and performance issues. We cannot eradicate moisture in poultry litter and neither do we want to. Moisture enters the poultry house in many different forms. This presentation aims to discuss how to identify moisture entering your house and ways of controlling it.
Moisture enters your poultry house via:
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