Benefits to proper Poultry Litter management
Poultry litter is organic waste such as manure, spilled feed, feathers, and bedding materials provided by chickens and turkeys. This litter is high in plant nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but the total composition can vary depending on the type of poultry, the amount of litter used, and how the litter is collected and stored. Poultry litter has some uses which prevent it from having to be sent to the Landfill. First, it can be utilized as a source of fertilizer for plants due to its high amount of plant nutrients. Once it has been properly treated to eliminate foreign materials and toxins, it can be used as livestock and fish feed. Poultry litter may also be burned as a source of heat or energy and deposited in an anaerobic digester to be converted into biofuel since it contains less than 15% moisture. In many places, poultry farms are sited and intensively managed in the residential areas with little welfare improvement and major concern of poultry waste disposal. The average amount of poultry litter produced per bird per day was estimated to be 0.11 kg, resulting in millions of metric tons of poultry manure produced per year. Poultry farm waste is a public health threat as well as a possible cause of conflict between neighbors. Aside from the environmental implications, poultry waste has a significant impact on the health and productivity of poultry. Suitable poultry droppings and moist absorbents referred to as litter materials were later discovered. Traditional bird cages have recently been deemed unethical, traditional litter materials are seasonally available, wood-based litter materials are now being diverted for the manufacture of other wood products, and the use of poultry litter as fertilizer and livestock feed supplement has increased, resulting in a rise in demand and price for litter materials. Adequate litter materials cannot be easily met by farmers and non-environmentally friendly alternative litter materials may be sought by farmers creating negative socio-economic impacts on poultry and the environment. Therfore careful selection, adequate management and proper storage and utilization of poultry litter are here given due attention.
On any poultry farm, keeping the litter dry is an essential part of overall management. Litter conditions have an effect on bird efficiency, which in turn has an impact on grower and integrator profits. Dry litter helps regulate ammonia levels
Ammonia is also a problem since high levels over extended periods of time can have harmful effects on the atmosphere and human health.
Benefits to proper Poultry Litter management
- Reduces ammonia production and bacterial challenge.
- Footpad quality improvement.
- Increases litter amendment activity.
- Increases fuel efficiency during preheating and brooding.
- Maintains healthy floor moisture (15% to 25%)
- Reduces health risk.