Importance of air quality control in poultry farms Air quality control in poultry production is key to maintain animal welfare , which is closely related to productivity and absence of diseases. When the air components are not in harmless concentrations for the animals, stress appears and makes the birds prone to suffering from certain diseases. In farms, one of the main compounds that w...
But it is very very important to know in real time (over their heads), the air quality (co, co2, ammonia, temperature, humidity and dust particles 2.5), and program early alerts in your phone, to prevent damages... and have a close control about if the product that we are buying really gives us good results.
Maria Graciela Anza , thank you for your comment. I agree with you, periodical assessment of the air quality is highly recommended, and also to perform it at the height of the animals. We recommend to measure it several times a day at different locations of the facility. The early morning is the moment where ammonia can have a higher accumulation due to low ventilation during the night.
Talaat Mostafa El-Sheikh Hello Mr Mostafa, thank you for your message. Ammonia levels are expressed in parts per million (ppm) and can be measured with a variety of tools, ranging from permanent or portable electronic devices to test strips. You can write me at msoriano@biovet-alquermes.com for more information.
Talaat Mostafa El-Sheikh
Some direct impacts...
Climate change can impact poultry production by stressing the birds’ ability to maintain homeostasis. Birds must work to regulate their temperature and, therefore, lose and divert nutrients that should be used for production. This leads to production losses (reduced growth rate, lower egg production, increased disease threat, and higher mortality) in poultry (Attia et al., 2011). Increasing temperature is likely the greatest climate change factor affecting poultry (we must remember that the genetic improvements made to increase production reduced the size of their lungs ...)
Changes in humidity compound the effects of high environmental temperature. Birds reduce their feed consumption in a hot environment to limit metabolic heat production. High humidity makes it increasingly difficult for birds to cool themselves and evaporate water off their respiratory systems. Laying hens respond to increasing temperatures by reducing the number and size of eggs produced. Stressful weather conditions negatively affect internal and external quality of eggs. High temperatures result in lower fertility rates, egg hatchability, and chick quality. Additionally, heat-stressed males produce semen with lower sperm quality and concentration (Karaca et al., 2002).
Some indirect Impacts...
Poultry production is also at risk of indirect climate change aspects that will impact feed ingredient availability and quality for poultry, particularly for the commercial poultry industry. Arid and semi-arid regions experiencing increasing temperatures, low rainfall, and irregular rainfall patterns cannot produce the bountiful harvests needed to stave off rising feed prices. Climate change is predicted to decrease crop productivity and increase market prices. (Thompson et al., 2010).
Poultry feed and water intake are closely related. If water intake is restricted, feed intake and growth rate will also be reduced. Plenty of clean, good-quality water must always be available if birds are to have any chance of reaching their genetic potential. Unfortunately, climate change is resulting in reduced water in ponds, rivers, streams, and seas immediately after the rainy season across the world because of an increased rate of evaporation (Alemayehu and Woldeamlak, 2017).
Ammonia, also called NH3, can be measured using a specific portable instrument as you can do with temperature, humidity, etc. Also it can be supplied an NH3 sensor by the companies making the Poultry houses control systems as part of this system. With this, you can control it, if installed, 24/7 through a web browser. To detect Ammonia it is not even really needed to measure it since during the daily check in the Poultry houses it is easy to detect it by the “smell”. Once Ammonia is starting to develop it is hard to stop it and the Poultry house ventilation, including internal air circulation, should be increased to try to keep the floor bedding (Litter), in combination with heating, to not become more wet. There is on the market a type of floor bedding with a higher moisture absorbing capacity as also an approved kind of “Bacterial blend” which can be used to prevent starting the Ammonia development. But always important is that the Poultry house ventilation system has been designed properly in combination with a good programmed Poultry house controller.
Leo Geilvoet agree about the smell method. In Thailand we use rice husk as litter. Litter is changed-out after every grow and catch cycle To control ammonia and wet litter we turn rice husk daily from day 10 when chickens go full house to around day 25 when there becomes insufficient room to run the rakes. Daily checks on litter under drinker lines is very important. Maintaining correct drinker line heights avoids chickens spilling water when they drink and maintaining the correct line pressure reduces water spillage and damp litter. We also restrict the use of evaporative cooling pads to avoid excess moisture around the pad end of the shed. Many farmers here run cooling pads with water dawn till dusk and suffer consequent ammonia issues. We also use a probiotic in the drinking water to maintain good gut health.
Leo Geilvoet Thank you very much for your comment.
It should be highlighted that ammonia levels that are not detected by the human smell can be already negatively affecting the animal, although it is difficult to measure the extent of the adverse effects per an specific ammonia concentration.
Preventive measures to reduce environmental ammonia concentration in the farm include: the management of the diet and digestive system, to reduce the amount of ammonia excreted by animals; the management of the cleaning and disinfection of the farm, especially the renewal of litter and elimination of wastages; the assessment of the density of animals, and the control of the temperature and ventilation of the facility, especially in winter, when ventilation is reduced to preserve the indoor temperature and there is less gas exchange with outdoors.
Complementary measures, including the use of feed additives, such as Alquernat Yucca, are highly recommended and, many times, indispensable to keep environmental ammonia below toxic concentrations in poultry farms.
Mark Lacey Thank you for your comment. I agree on management measures to reduce humidity in the farm. Below there are some of my comments to complement the discussion.
Thanks Maria Soriano for such a detailed discussion on Ammonia gas control.
Please guide me also about the effect of Yucca on coccidial eggs and clostridial spores and what is the method of usage and dosage of Alquernet Yucca?
Thanks
Hello Tahir Naseem , thank you for your comment. There are publications on the use of Yucca extract to control coccidia. From Biovet, we work on specific problem-solution with our products, and the approach for parasitic invasions is different: we aim to stimulate the gut immunity to battle coccidia invasion naturally through the use of Alquernat Zycox (https://biovet-alquermes.com/en/producto/alquernat-zycox-p-and-l/). We have a long-time deep research and experience on this topic. Should you like to know more about it, please feel free to write me at msoriano@biovet-alquermes.com. Regards!
Like many food operators, the poultry industry is looking at so-called "clean-label" methods to adapt to consumer expectations and enhance work processes and the welfare of animals and employees.
Talaat Mostafa El-Sheikh Thank you for your message. Alquernat Yucca is a product intended to reduce environmental ammonia. It combines the activity of yucca’s saponins and phenolic compounds with cimenol ring, which enhances the action of the product. Once animals are fed the product, it works capturing the ammonia molecules and reducing the ammonia-producing bacteria. You can find product description here: https://biovet-alquermes.com/en/producto/alquernat-yucca-2/
Excessive ammonia gas in poultry houses seriously result in stress on the health condition and also affect the immune system. The damage to the mucous membranes of the respiratory system caused by a higher level of ammonia increases the susceptibility of birds to respiratory infections like mycoplasmosis, E. coli infection, the treatment for the flocks by using effective antibiotics, Providing accessing fresh air, and reducing humidity. Good litter management and ventilation will minimize the level of ammonia, improve productivity, reduce the likelihood of respiratory diseases.
Dear Dr. Bidhan Chandra Das, I do completely agree with your comments, and thanks for considering this matter. I just want to add that ventilation reduces the health risk in birds, but does not solve the ammonia emission, only dilutes the inconvenience. Considered from the environmental point of view, we might handle the alternatives of: 1) reducing Nitrogen excretion, 2) use different strategies to "fix" the excreted Nitrogen into less volatile forms.
Dear Arthus Roxas , thank you for your message.
Recommended ammonia concentration is, generally, under 20 ppm. When ammonia concentration is higher than that value, it can be smelled. Despite of this, ammonia levels that are not detected by the human smell can be already negatively affecting the animal, although it is difficult to measure the extent of the adverse effects per an specific ammonia concentration.
You can find more information about the topic in here: https://www.veterinariadigital.com/en/articulos/keys-to-reduce-ammonia-levels-in-the-farm-and-improve-animal-welfare-and-performance/
I think modern hen houses should be built with sliding floor pans for easy clean and dressing of floor or built on rails to sterilize floor more so in humid countries
Excellent discussion as in winter it is a major problem. I am of the opinion that in addition to have good ventilation, use of yucca extracts, we must take care that protein should not be given above the requirement of bird so that nitrogen product is lesser available for production of ammonia. Good gut health, balanced micrbiome & balanced nutrients (good quality protein so that it is properly digested & absorbed) also help in lesser production of ammonia.
Dear Pablo Lencioni, You are right: good ventilation decreases health risky situations and helps in maintaining the flock in between the thermoneutral zone. Now, to decrease ammonia load, it helps a lot to reduce crude protein in the diets (close to the real requirements). Also, let me remind the use of exogenous monocomponent proteases contributes in doing so.
It is a very interesting topic, especially thinking from the point of view of physiology and the problems that occur after its action on the animals, it is a very harmful gas but as Alfredo says not to exaggerate the protein levels and acidify food, water or use probiotics and extracts plus a correct management of ventilation and perform the measures that corroborate that the procedure is correct is a measure that no one should ignore. A nice topic in farm management Greetings.
yusuf dambha
You will always need new fresh air to come into the house. It is when you want to go to minimum ventilation. A small, uniform opening ensures that minimum ventilation rates will enter the house high above the birds during cool weather. This also reduces drafts and allows the entering air to mix and be tempered before coming into contact with the birds. The best way to do this is to have a mechanical ventilation system installed. Your house needs to be air tight. If you make use of proper air inlets, that direct the airflow to the ridge of the house in wintertime. The cold incomming air can then mix with the warm air in the ridge of the house and warm up. You will have to make use of some heaters.
Now if the air inlets in the side walls also have a high insulation value, this will also help you to keep the cold out and the warm air in. If you want more information on this, please feel free to ask me.
It is always interesting on how to Enhance health . I could not agree more on the importance of fresh air coming in also how sensitive fowl are to dust and particles I believe you can really help the health of your fowl by plain old fresh air
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