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Workshop paper 13
Teun Veldkamp presents Workshop paper 13
In workshop 5: The effect of feed measurements to overcome current and future problems on farm level with
implementation of animal welfare legislation
Friday, 12 September 2008 from 14h00-14h45 in the Het Pand chaired by Arno van der Aa
REDUCTION OF AMMONIA LEVELS ON POULTRY FARMS AS RESULT
OF FEED AND LITTER MEASUREMENTS
T. Veldkamp, J. van Harn, M.M. van Krimpen, A.W. Jongbloed
Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR, Business Unit Animal Production, Lelystad, The Netherlands
Directive 2008/1/EC is the main legislation to reduce pollution on poultry farms. Directive
2007/43/EC regarding minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, sets
limits for parameters affecting animal husbandry. One parameter is the maximum ammonia
concentration (20 ppm measured at the level of chickens’ heads). In practice peak concentrations
are often higher.
Ammonia may irritate mucous membranes in eyes and respiratory system and can increase the
susceptibility to respiratory diseases. It may also negatively affect feed intake, feed conversion
efficiency and growth.
Nitrogen (N) is excreted in poultry waste as undigested protein (30%) and uric acid (70%). After
excretion, undigested protein and uric acid may quickly convert to ammonia by microbial
transformation and disappear to the environment. Ammonia emission may be reduced in several
ways: e.g. by breeding, housing, management, nutrition and litter.
The nutritional approach is mainly focused on decreasing the nitrogen excretion. The supply of
nitrogen in the diet should closely match the requirement. Therefore, phase feeding and selection of
highly digestible protein feedstuffs are successful strategies. Improved efficiency of feed utilization
by adding probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids or enzymes is an important tool and adding ammonia
binders to the diet may also affect ammonia emission.
Regarding litter treatments, three pathways are described: (1) inhibition of microbial growth and
urease production; (2) clays which adsorb ammonia and reduce ammonia volatilization by
absorbing moisture; (3) acidifiers that convert ammonia (NH3) to non-volatile ammonium (NH4+).
Ammonia emission may be reduced changing diet composition. Low-protein diets supplemented
with free amino acids are a powerful tool. Conversion of amino acids into uric acid should be
reduced by optimizing the gut flora. Possible gut flora stabilizers are probiotics, prebiotics, organic
acids, phytogenics and enzymes. Ammonia in the gut or litter should be bound to for example clay
minerals.
Contact information: Teun Veldkamp or email teun.veldkamp@wur.nl
Complete address: Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
Species: Broiler