Handling BuiltHandling Built--Up Litter Up Litter Between FlocksBetween Flocks

R. Michael HuletR. Michael HuletPenn State UniversityPenn State University

Controlling AmmoniaControlling Ammonia

Combination of manure, moisture, heat Combination of manure, moisture, heat and bacteriaand bacteriaCause blindness in young birds over 90 Cause blindness in young birds over 90 ppmppmCause decreases in feed efficiency, growth Cause decreases in feed efficiency, growth over 50 ppmover 50 ppmCreates susceptibility to respiratory illnessCreates susceptibility to respiratory illness

ObjectiveObjective

Treat Litter between flocks to reduce Treat Litter between flocks to reduce pathogen level ammonia production, and pathogen level ammonia production, and caked littercaked litterEconomize litter and ventilation expensesEconomize litter and ventilation expensesPrepare house for next flockPrepare house for next flock

MethodsMethods

InIn--House Sterilization of litterHouse Sterilization of litterMechanical Treatment of litterMechanical Treatment of litterFlame Sterilization of litterFlame Sterilization of litter

InIn--House Pasteurization House Pasteurization of Broiler Litterof Broiler Litter

Water Quality Issues in PoultryProduction and Processing

Theresia K. Lavergne, Ph.D., P.A.S.Poultry Specialist

Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service

ObjectivesOur main objectives are to reduce pathogen content in broiler litter and to reduce ammonia levels in poultry houses

* Determine the optimum moisture content (of broiler litter) necessary for maximum pathogen reduction

* Determine the effect of pasteurization on pathogen content in broiler litter

* Determine the nutrient content of recycledbroiler litter

Temperature and Time for Temperature and Time for Pathogen DestructionPathogen Destruction

Microbe Temp(F) Time (Minutes)

Salmonella typhosa 131 30Salmonella sp. 131 60Shigella sp. 131 60Entamoeba histolytica cysts 113 2-3Tanea 131 2-3Trichinella spiralis larvae 131 2-3Brucella abortis 145 3Micrococcus pyogenes 122 10Streptococcus pyogenes 131 10Corynebacterium diptheria 131 45Necator americanus 113 50Escherichia coli 131 60

Procedures

Poultry litter is arranged into twowindrows running lengthwise of

the house

Joe Hess, Auburn University

Joe Hess, Auburn University

Procedures

If needed, water is addedto the litter to obtain thedesired moisture content

Procedures

Windrows are monitored for 7 to 10 days

Thermometer stations recordtemperatures at 6” and 12”

depths

Temperature Monitoring StationTemperature Monitoring Station

Temperatureand

Moisture

Maximum Temperature vs. Moisture in Dewar Flasks

R2 = 0.975

70

100

130

160

28 31 34 38

Moisture (% x 100)

Max

imum

Te

mpe

ratu

re

Obs

erve

d (F

)

Maximum average temperatures at 1 ft. and 6 inch depths at various moisture contents

100110120130140150160

20% 25% 30% 35%

Moisture

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

1 ft.6 inchPoly. (1 ft.)Poly. (6 inch)

Average windrow and house temperatures during 10 days of in-house pasteurization of poultry litter at

28% moisture.

7085

100115130145

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Day

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

Average WindrowTemperature (F)

Average HouseTemperature

Average daily windrow temperature readings at 1ft. depth

60

80

100

120

140

160

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Day

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

21%23%26%35%

Average daily windrow temperature readings at 6 inch depth

60708090

100110120130

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Day

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

21%23%26%35%

Average daily w indrow temperatures during 10 days of in-house pasteurization of poultry litter at

various moisture levels

70.085.0

100.0115.0130.0145.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Day

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

35% Moisture,surface w atered

26% Moisture, Noadded w ater

35% Moisture,Blended in

Sampling

Litter samples are taken“before” and “after” thepasteurization process

•Pathogens•Nutrients

Sampling

Preliminary laboratory results indicate that there is a reductionin broiler litter pathogen levels following in-house pasteurization

Chemical Litter TreatmentsChemical Litter Treatments

Acidifying agents to reduce ammonia Acidifying agents to reduce ammonia productionproductionDecrease moisture from litter Decrease moisture from litter Apply Apply ““positivepositive”” bacteria to competitively bacteria to competitively provide good environment for birdsprovide good environment for birdsApply enzymes or other compounds to Apply enzymes or other compounds to bind up ammonia compounds and prevent bind up ammonia compounds and prevent releaserelease

Lewis Brothers Manufacturing, Lewis Brothers Manufacturing, HousekeeperHousekeeper

Litter TreatmentLitter Treatment–– DeDe--caking and conditioning machinescaking and conditioning machines–– Remove moistureRemove moisture--laden, ammonia producing laden, ammonia producing

manuremanure–– Mixes and aerates litter materialMixes and aerates litter material–– VideoVideo

Red Dragon, Flame EngineeringRed Dragon, Flame Engineering

Litter SterilizerLitter Sterilizer–– Designed to treat bare floors and litter Designed to treat bare floors and litter

after flock removal and deafter flock removal and de--caking.caking.–– Six Liquid Propane torches that put Six Liquid Propane torches that put

intense heat under a sturdy enclosed intense heat under a sturdy enclosed steel hood. steel hood.

–– Produces heat over 2000F and maintains Produces heat over 2000F and maintains approximately 1400 F which kills approximately 1400 F which kills pathogens, insects and insect larvae or pathogens, insects and insect larvae or eggs.eggs.

–– VideoVideo

Summary for Litter TreatmentSummary for Litter Treatment

InIn--house sterilizationhouse sterilizationChemical treatmentChemical treatmentMechanical treatmentMechanical treatmentFlame treatmentFlame treatment