Recent Alabama Broiler Litter Usage Changes

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Recent Alabama Broiler Litter Usage Changes

• J. B. Hess, J.P. Blake and K.S. Macklin
• Poultry Science Dept., Auburn Univ., AL

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Introduction

• We Import Corn and Soybean Meal
• We Export Chicken Meat
• We Get to Keep the Chicken Litter
• Good Fertilizer (Phosphorus ?)
• Not as much as many people think

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Traditionally

• Broiler Litter Used Locally
• Too Bulky to Move Long Distances
• 30 of State Too Much Litter
• 70 of State Nutrient Deficient
• Local Nutrient Imbalance
• Phosphorus

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Improvements Over Time

• Waste Management Planning
• Farmer Accountable for Nutrient Use
• Certified Waste Vendor Program
• Vendor Accountable for Nutrient Use
• EQIP Program
• Move Litter to Areas of Need
• Reuse of Litter
• Manure Storage Facilities

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Recently

• Increased Cost of Replacement Bedding
• 3-4X
• Short Supply of Replacement Bedding
• Burning Wood Pellets
• Less Peanuts Less Peanut Hulls
• Indefinite Reuse of Litter
• Little Removed
• Management Techniques

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Cleanout Economics

• Cost of Cleanout
• Pine Shavings - 400 - 1,200
• Improved Performance?
• Vs. Increased Management Costs
• Wild Card Availability of Bedding

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Built-Up Litter

• Many Years
• Shore, Others
• Yearly
• Southeast
• Every Flock
• Europe, Others

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Issues

• Bird Health
• Bird Productivity
• Litter Cost/Availability
• Waste Management Plan
• Cost of Managing Built-up Litter
• Ammonia/Dust Emissions

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Economics Built Up

• Less Litter Costs Over Time
• Only Top Dressing
• Cake Removal
• Less Litter to Dispose of/Handle
• ½ lb litter produced/1 lb broiler
• Better Control of When/Where Litter Used on Soil

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Litter Nutrient Levels
Lbs./Ton
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Litter Nutrient Levels
PPM
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Living with Built-Up Litter

• Tight House Management
• Better Housing and Equipment
• Better Environmental Control
• New Techniques
• Windrow Composting
• Litter Treatments

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Built-Up Litter Management

• Ventilation - Moisture Removal
• Drinker Management
• Down Time - 10-12 days
• Decaking, Windrow Composting
• Litter Treatments

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Health Aspects

• Microbes Build Up Over Time
• Performance May Suffer
• Subclinical
• Boost in Performance
• Good House Mgmt.
• Windrow Composting

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Windrow Compost
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Windrow Composting

• Relatively Quick and Easy?
• May Be Accomplished Within Normal Downtime
  Periods
• Can Be Used Strategically During the Year to
  Reduce the Disease Load in the House
• Help to Reduce Ammonia For Next Flock

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Windrow Compost Temperatures
1
7
14
Days
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Total Aerobic Bacteria (cfu/g)
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Total Anaerobic Bacteria (cfu/g)
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Litter Treatments

• Chemical, Bacterial
• Chemical Acidify the Litter
• Commonly Used
• Bacterial Release Ammonia
• Less Common
• Improve House Environment for a period of Time

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Litter TreatmentsBenefits

• Respiratory Disease - Condemns
• Reduces Ammonia
• Use Less Energy
• Decrease Bacterial Levels?
• Decrease Bacterial Viability?
• Get Birds Through Brooding

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Effect of pH on Bacterial Growth
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Conclusions

• Existing Litter Movement Programs have
  Redistributed Some Litter
• Litter Reuse has been Extended Indefinitely
  In-house
• Litter Distribution to Agronomic Uses is Better
  Controlled Better Planning and Better Storage
  Facilities

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Conclusions

• Built-Up Litter Can be Used Successfully to
  Extend Litter Life if Litter Management is Taken
  Seriously
• Windrow Composting and Litter Treatments Will
  Help Manage Built-Up Litter

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Recent Alabama Broiler Litter Usage Changes

• J. B. Hess, J.P. Blake and K.S. Macklin
• Poultry Science Dept., Auburn Univ., AL