Keeping litter dry is a critical part of overall management on every poultry farm which affects birds performance, growth, health & Immunity. Dry litter helps to control ammonia level, provides a healthy flock environment and reduces condemnations due to hock & footpad burns and breast blisters. Poultry litter consists of bedding material (Shavings, rice hulls etc.), manure, feathers and other components. Dry litter is important for the health and welfare of birds, as well as the people who work in the house.
When litter begins to retain moisture it will clump together, which referred to as caking. Only about 20% of the water consumed is used for growth, most of it eventually reaches the litter as manure. To prevent caking, this added moisture within the litter must be removed through adequate ventilation. Once cake starts to form, it is difficult to reverse the process. It is usually requires over-ventilation to correct the problem, which can lead to excessive gas use during cold weather and high energy costs year-round.
Problem with conventional litter:
- Become wet and form cakes
- Generate more heat due to fermentation
- Produces more ammonia gas
- Increased risk of Coccidiosis & other parasitic diseases
- Increased risk of bacterial diseases (respiratory)
Poor Quality Litter affects:
- Birds performance
- Growth
- Health & Immunity
- Increased mortality rate
Litter borne diseases
- Coccidiosis
- Colibacillosis
- Aflatoxicosis
- Aspergillosis (brooder pneumonia)
- Pododermatitis, hock burn and breast blisters
- In turkeys shaky leg syndrome, foot ulceration
How to maintain litter quality
- Maintain proper humidity in the litter
More humidity – wet litter leads to coccidiosis and worm burden
Less humidity – dusty litter, leads to respiratory distress - Litter should be properly mixed in routine basis
- Maintain litter quality by proper ventilation
- Maintain alkaline pH of litter
- Ammonia level produced by litter should not exceed 25 ppm, more ammonia level causes
1. Irritation of eyes
2.Drop in egg production and stunted growth
3. Immune suppression
Features of good quality litter
Non toxic
Based on latest available technology
Maintain permanent freshness over the time
Gentle, non-irritating and natural
Without calcium carbonate or phosphates
Ideal for use at or after birth of chicks/animal
Improves sanitary status of animal house
Reduces ammonia content
Having essential oils and plants extracts
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