Learn about poultry litter management, alternatives

How litter is managed before, during, and after each flock is a key factor for successful poultry growers. Litter management starts with the previous flock, and management of litter is critical between flocks.
Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2607352555140873986?linknumber=website to attend “Litter management between flocks & switchgrass bedding,” a webinar presented by WATT Global Media. This is the second webinar in the Poultry Grower Webinar Series. The webinar will be held Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m.
U.S. broiler growers almost exclusively use built-up litter in their houses and this webinar will address how to successfully manage built-up litter. Pine shavings have been the bedding of choice for most of the U.S. poultry industry for several decades, but it is often in short supply. Learn about how Giant Miscanthus (switchgrass) may provide a renewable bedding alternative that producers can grow on their own land.
By attending this webinar, you will learn:


• Strategies for controlling ammonia
• Ways to control litter moisture levels
• How switchgrass performs as a poultry house bedding material
Speakers for this webinar will be Dr. Casey Ritz, professor at University of Georgia, and Dr. Jesse Grimes, professor at North Carolina State University.
Ritz has been an extension poultry specialist for more than two decades, working with broiler producers on house management, environmental and waste management.  His primary focus has been the development of educational and research programs with emphasis on poultry production management and environmental issues involving waste management, nutrient management planning, and water and air quality. He received his B.S. in zoology and M.S. in animal science from Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. in poultry science from Virginia Tech.
Grimes is an extension specialist who also conducts research and teaches. He has worked with producers on the effect of management on turkey and broiler production, reproduction, and waste handling. His research activities include examining various rearing methods and feeding regimens for the production of market and breeder turkeys to determine optimum management practices. He is also interested in methods to reduce fecal and litter nutrients of turkeys and broilers. He received B.S. degrees in wildlife biology and poultry science, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in nutrition, all from North Carolina State. Prior to attending graduate school, he worked for three years for Perdue Farms as a broiler service supervisor.