• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2004

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of applying three different chemical additives to the litter (rice hull) on broiler performance, ammonia and carbon dioxide gas reduction in a poultry house at 6 weeks. A total of 96 broiler chicks (6 treatments$\times$4 replicates$\times$4 birds) were fed the experimental diets for 6 weeks. The chemical additives were applies as a top dressing to the litter at a rate of 200 g ferrous sulfate $(FeSO_4)$, 200 g aluminum chloride $(AlCl_3)$ + 50 g calcium carbonate $(CaCO_3)$ and 20 g potassium permanganate $(KMnO_4)$ per kg litter, while the control group did not have the three different chemicals added to the litter. There were no significant differences in broiler performance between the three chemical additives and control group. $FeSO_4\;and\;AlCl_3\;+\;CaCO_3$ treatment reduced ammonia production from the litter at 6 weeks by as much as 91 and $53\%$, respectively (P<0.05). $KMnO_4$ treatment decreased ammonia production at 6 weeks up to $69\%$ compared to the controls (P<0.05). Poultry litter amended with $AlCl_3\;+\;CaCO_3\;and\;KMnO_4$ also caused a decrease (P<0.01) in carbon dioxide productions at 6 weeks (59 and $65\%$, respectively). In conclusion, although broiler performance was not affected by the three chemical additives and control group, these results indicate that $FeSO_4,\;AlCl_3\;+\;CaCO_3\;and\;KMnO_4$ application to litter in a poultry house resulted in a significant reduction in atmospheric ammonia and carbon dioxide gas.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.287-290
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• 2019

This study investigates the changes in ammonia fluxes, pH and total nitrogen of liquid ferrous sulfate-treated litter over 5 weeks. A total of 200 broiler chicks (Arbor Acres, 1 d old) was separated into two treatment groups (0 g and 100 g liquid ferrous sulfate/kg litter) with four replications of 25 birds in each group. Liquid ferrous sulfate was sprayed on the litter by using a small sprayer. There was no difference (p>0.05) in the ammonia fluxes observed between the control and liquid ferrous sulfate treatment groups at 0, 1, and 5 weeks, except for 2, 3 and 4 weeks. At 5 weeks, the litter pH and total nitrogen content did not show any difference (p>0.05) between the control and liquid ferrous sulfate treatment groups. In conclusion, the use of liquid ferrous sulfate is not a suitable for use in poultry litter to reduce ammonia and pH or improve the total nitrogen content.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1407-1416
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of genotype (slower-growing vs. fast-growing) and production system (access to outdoors vs. indoor) on the growth performance, carcass yield and meat quality (chemical composition, physicochemical and sensory properties) of chickens. The experiment was performed on 1,040 day-old hybrid male chickens of two genotypes. Slower-growing chickens (Hubbard JA957, certified) and fast-growing chickens (Hubbard F15) were fed identical diets until 65 days of age. Both genotypes (each represented by 520 birds) were divided into two subgroups and were raised in pens on litter with outdoor access or in indoor confinement without outdoor access (four replications per subgroup, each of 65 birds). Until day 21, the birds stayed in the indoor facility, in deep-litter pens. The birds could forage on pasture 12 h daily, commencing at three weeks of age. Stocking density was 0.13 $m^2$ floor space per bird in pens on litter, and 0.8 $m^2$ per bird in grassy yards. Compared with fast-growing, slower-growing chickens were significantly lighter (by 17%), had a lower breast and thigh muscle yield and a higher abdominal fat content, but they were characterized by higher survival rates at 65 days, a higher protein content and a lower fat content of breast meat. Outdoor access had no negative effects on the growth performance, muscle yield, the fatty acid profile and oxidative status of meat lipids. The meat of free-range chickens was darker in color, it had a higher protein content and a better water-holding capacity, but it was less juicy than the meat of birds raised indoors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.414-417
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate as litter amendments on ammonia, soluble reactive phosphorus, and pathogen populations in poultry litters. Methods: Increasing levels of Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate were applied onto the surface of rice hull as a top-dress application; untreated rice hulls served as controls. Results: Treatment with Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate or aluminum sulfate alone resulted in lower litter pH (p < 0.05), as compared with that of the controls. There were some differences (p < 0.05) between treatments with Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate or aluminum sulfate alone and controls at 2-4 wk (not at 1 wk). Ammonia levels reduced on an average by 29%, 30%, and 32% for 10 g, 20 g Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate, and aluminum sulfate alone, respectively, as compared with controls at 4 wk. During the experiment, Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate or aluminum sulfate treatment had an effect (p < 0.05) on soluble reactive phosphorus content, as compared with the controls (not at 4 wk). A decrease in Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli was observed (p < 0.05) in litter amended with both Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate and aluminum sulfate alone, as compared with the control, except at 1-3 wk for Salmonella enterica and 1 wk and 4 wk for Escherichia coli, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that using Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate (blends), which act as acidifying agents by reducing the pH of the litter, was equally effective as aluminum sulfate in reducing the environmental impact.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of moisture absorbent (MA) application timing for litter management on broiler performance, blood cell characteristics, litter moisture content, incidence of footpad dermatitis (FPD), and economics analysis. Treatment include untreated control (NC), 3-week-old litter treatment (PC), 0-week-old (W1), 0 and 3-week-old (W2), 3-week-old (W3) application of moisture absorbent. Six hundred eighty broilers (1-day-old, 42.0±0.24 g) were divided into 5 treatments (4 replications per treatment, 34 birds per replication) and raised for 5 weeks in a floor (2 m² per pen). There was no significant difference among treatments in performance, blood cell characteristics, and H/L ratio according to the application period of litter and moisture absorbent. The litter moisture content and the FPD score were significantly decreased in the litter and moisture absorbent treatments at the age of 5 weeks (P<0.05). The FPD score of broilers was lowest in PC treatment compared to NC treatment (P<0.05). The incidence of FPD was lower in PC and W3 treatments compared to other treatments, and that was the highest in NC treatment. As a result of analyzing the economic feasibility, the highest expenditure occurred in PC treatment, and the lowest expenditure occurred in W3 treatment. Income was the highest in W3 treatment, and lowest in NC treatment. The profit was 185,859 won (1,367 won/unit), the highest in the W3 treatment. In conclusion, when MA was applied to the litter of broiler house at the age of 3 weeks, the litter moisture content and FPD were improved.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of surface spraying of antimicrobial solutions, oil and application of both on performance of broiler chicken under heat stress and reared on leaves and ground corn cobs as two alternative bedding materials. Six hundred seventy five day-old straightrun Arian broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 45 pens (at density of $0.09m^2/bird$) in an open sided partially-controlled shed. Three bedding materials viz. wood shavings (WS), ground corn cobs (GCC) (1.5 cm in length) and leaves were subjected to surface spraying of oil ($0.4L/m^2$ animal food grade sunflower oil), anti microbial solutions (3%) and mix treatment of both. Data on performance traits, incidence of breast and food pad lesions and litter characteristics were gathered and analysed in an appropriate factorial arrangements. Body weight at 56 d, feed intake up to 14 d, litter moisture at 28 d, litter pH at 14 d and litter temperature at 14 and 56 d were significantly influenced by litter type (p<0.05). Litter treatment revealed significant impact on body weight at 28, 42 and 56 d, feed intake during 29-42 and 1-42 d, mortality up to 56 d, litter temperature at 28 and 56 d, and litter pH at 28 and 56 d. Leaves and ground corn cobs have shown good potential as alternative bedding materials for rearing broilers. Surface spraying of antimicrobial solutions, oil and applying both were not effective tools to promote the broiler's health and performance. Meat type poultry growers and integrators are considered as primary audiences of the results achieved.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.131-142
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• 2003

This on­site survey was performed by visiting sites in Israel and USA where broiler litter is studied, manufactured as feed and applied practically and interviewing experts related. Their advanced experiences, technologies and informations were collected, analyzed, compared with Korean situations and described on the text of this article. Although broiler litter has been successfully used as feed for at least 40 years in Israel and USA, its practice and application rate of the technologies related has been very slow in Korea. Many informations presented here will be very helpful for the successful on­site application of hygienically processed broiler litter as livestock feed. It's doubtless that these efforts to use broiler litter­like underutilized feed resource will result in considerable livestock production cost cut­down and environmental pollution prevention.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1551-1556
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• 2016

Broiler meat production worldwide has been plagued by lethal food-poisoning bacteria diseases, including listeriosis. A fatality rate of 15.6% was recorded in human beings in the EU in 2015. During 2013, a total of 200 poultry farm samples, including litter, chicken breast, farm feed, and drinking water, were collected to generate baseline data for the characterization of the genus Listeria in broiler poultry farms. Listeria spp. were detected in a total of 95 (47.5%) poultry farm samples. The isolates of Listeria spp. included L. innocua (28.5%), L. ivanovii (12.5%), L. welshimeri (4.5%), and L. monocytogenes and L. seeligeri (1% each). Listeria spp. contamination rates were higher in farm feed (70%), followed by litter (52.5%), chicken breasts (42.2%), and drinking water (10%). Almost all Listeria spp. isolates were resistant to more than three classes of antibiotics (multidrug resistant). Besides this, we observed a significant resistance level to penicillin and fluoroquinolone drugs. However, lower resistance levels were recorded for broad-spectrum cephalosporins. The inlA, inlC, and inlJ virulence genes were detected in almost all of the L. monocytogenes isolates. Thus, food safety management approaches and interventions at all stages of the broiler rearing cycle were needed to control cross-contamination and the zoonotic potential of listeriosis.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.199-210
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the type and number of enrichments on growth performance, blood characteristics, footpad dermatitis (FPD) incidence, and litter moisture in broilers. A total of 1,140 1-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were assigned to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement based on the type of enrichment (cabbage, alfalfa block, and angle sawdust) and the number of enrichments (one or two per 38 broilers). The growth performance, blood characteristics, FPD incidence, and litter moisture of the broilers were evaluated. Body weight and feed conversion rate were significantly improved (P<0.05) in the alfalfa block and sawdust group compared to the cabbage group, but there was no interaction effect between the type and number of enrichments. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, a stress index, was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the alfalfa block and sawdust groups compared with the cabbage group. The incidence of FPD was significantly decreased in the order of cabbage (3.78), alfalfa block (3.06), and sawdust (1.43) groups at 5 weeks of age. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the incidence of FPD (P<0.05) in the one-enrichment group compared with the two-enrichment group. Litter moisture at 5 weeks of age was significantly reduced in the sawdust group compared to the cabbage and alfalfa groups, but there was no significant difference in the interaction between the type and number of enrichments. It was concluded that sawdust enrichment positively influenced both growth performance and the animal welfare of broilers. In addition, it is expected that sawdust can be used to regulate litter moisture.