Effect of Bedding Material on Dust and Ammonia Emission from Broiler Houses

摘要

Fine dust and ammonia are main pollutants emitted from broiler houses. The type of bedding material could influence these emissions. Therefore, in this study the effect of different bedding materials on fine dust and ammonia emissions from broiler houses was determined. The study was carried out in a mechanically ventilated broiler house with eight identical rooms for 2260 broilers each and compromised two production cycles (rounds) of 35 days. The broilers were raised on four different bedding materials: 1) white wood shavings; 2) chopped wheat straw; 3) ground rapeseed straw; 4) silage maize. In each of the two production cycles the bedding materials were randomly assigned to two of the eight rooms. PMIO, PM2.5 and ammonia concentrations and ventilation rates were measured. Ammonia and ventilation rate were measured continuously, whereas dust concentrations were measured during 24 h at 16,23, 30 and 33 days of age. The main results of the study were: Compared with wood shavings, silage maize as bedding had a 19% lower PM2.5 emission (P<0.05). PM2.5 emissions of silage maize were not different from wheat straw and rapeseed straw. Bedding material had no effect on PMIO emission. PM2.5 mass was on average 4.8% of PMIO mass. This percentage increased with the age of the animals. Silage maize had a 49, 58 and 53 percent lower ammonia emission compared to wood shavings, wheat straw and rapeseed straw, respectively.