Using litter amendments during broiler grow-out beneficial

Researchers at the University of Delaware, led by Dr. Hong Li, recently completed a research project funded by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) Foundation in which they field tested a novel method to apply a litter amendment at various times throughout the life of broiler flocks. The research project showed that more frequent applications of the litter amendment during grow-out not only reduced ammonia emissions but also improved live production parameters, improved foot pad quality, and reduced Salmonella isolations from the litter.
The poultry industry is concerned about the emission of ammonia from poultry houses because of the potential effects on live performance, poultry health and welfare, and the environment. Litter amendments have become a standard tool for reducing ammonia emissions from poultry houses but the use of litter amendments has been largely restricted to application prior to flock placement.
Assisting Li with the research were Dr. Eric Benson, Dr. Rolf Joerger, Dr. Kali Kniel, Dr. Pei Chiu and Dr. Yan Jin, all from the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.
A detailed summary of the research project can be found on the USPOULTRY website.
The project is part of the USPOULTRY comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.