Twenty-five years ago, poultry litter didn’t have to be managed. It was cleaned out after every flock. Today, growing birds on built-up litter—be it multiple flocks or multiple years—is standard, making the management of that litter a vital part of production.
We as an industry have learned a lot over the last 25 years. Look back at how we have seen litter management practices change.
Our houses, birds and litter have all changed
BEFORE WE….
- Replaced shavings after each flock; costs were low and disposal was simple
- Houses had sidewall curtains and were cross ventilated
- Grew smaller birds with lower protein needs
NOW WE….
- Grow birds on built-up litter and only clean out as necessary
- Have tightly controlled houses with solid sidewalls/tunnel ventilation that trap moisture
- Grow larger, faster growing birds on higher protein feed that increases water consumption, droppings, wet litter and ammonia levels
When it comes to ammonia
BEFORE WE….
- Never monitored ammonia levels
- Could easily ventilate the ammonia fluxing off the litter
- Would till and top dress litter, increasing surface area and raising ammonia levels
- Focused only on ammonia when built-up litter was first used
NOW WE….
- Use a variety of devices to keep ammonia levels below 25 ppm
- Use ventilation programs and litter amendments to control ammonia; when first introduced, PLT® was shown to reduce fuel costs by 70% due to decreased ventilation
- Decake only the top crust to remove moisture and minimize surface area to lower ammonia
- Know we must focus on lowering litter pH to maintain a hospitable growing environment
House management and preparation has changed too
BEFORE WE….
- Kept houses open during downtime
- Would pre-heat just prior to chick placement
- Used windrow composting to control ammonia and then dermatitis
- Struggled with IBD (infectious bursal disease)
NOW WE….
- Keep houses closed tight during downtime to retain heat, purge ammonia and keep litter replicating
- Pre-heat for 48-72 hours prior to chick placement to purge ammonia, and increase effectiveness and longevity of PLT®
- Know proper windrowing can be used for pathogen control
- Have IBD vaccines, but face other bacterial challenges; now see the impact of beneficial bacteria and cocci vaccines in litter
So has the way we use and maximize the value of PLT®
BEFORE WE….
- Only applied PLT® in the brood chamber
- Applied litter to fields as fertilizer or sold it as a source of income; fertilizer value was low
NOW WE….
- Leverage whole house and mid-flock applications of PLT®
- Must have detailed nutrient management plans; PLT®-treated litter is more valuable as fertilizer due to increased nitrogen retention