The Influence of the Mineral–Microbial Deodorizing Preparation on Ammonia Emission and Growth Performance in Turkey Production

• Main Authors: Remigiusz Gałęcki, Michał Dąbrowski, Tadeusz Bakuła, Kazimierz Obremski, Mirosław Baranowski, Adriana Nowak, Beata Gutarowska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Atmosphere
• Subjects: ammonia; animal welfare; deodorizing additive; farm hygiene; poultry
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/743

In our previous in vitro research and also in laying hen production, attempts were made to minimise ammonia emissions in poultry houses with the use of Deodoric^® biopreparation. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the influence of the Deodoric^® on ammonia (NH₃) emission and turkey growth performance in a semi-industrial production system. Significant differences in NH₃ emission (<i>p</i>-value < 0.001), body weight (<i>p</i>-value < 0.001) and relative humidity (<i>p</i>-value < 0.001) were observed between the control group (C) and the experimental group (E) where Deodoric® was applied. In group C, an increase in ammonia concentration in air could have contributed to a decrease in the body weight of turkeys, but the above correlation was not observed in group E. In the control group, a relatively strong correlation between NH₃ emission and temperature (<i>p</i>-value = 0.0009; <i>r =</i> 0.74) and moderate correlations between NH₃ emission vs. relative humidity (<i>p</i>-value = 0.01; <i>r =</i> 0.59), air speed (<i>p</i>-value = 0.015; <i>r =</i> 0.60) and cooling (<i>p</i>-value = 0.005; <i>r =</i> 0.66) were noted. Studied correlations were not observed in group E. The preparation did not affect microbial levels in manure or body samples. Throughout the experiment, significant differences in the number of mesophilic bacteria (for the model: <i>F</i> = 46.14, <i>p</i>-value = 0.09; for mesophilic microorganisms: <i>F</i> = 3.29, <i>p</i>-value = 0.045) and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. (for the model: <i>F</i> = 24.96, <i>p</i>-value = 0.008; for <i>Campylobacter</i> spp.: <i>F</i> = 0.25, <i>p</i>-value = 0.64) were not observed between group C and group E. The administration of Deodoric^® to manure decreased NH₃ concentration in the air and increased weight gains in the experimental group of turkeys relative to group C. Preparation may be applied in poultry farms to improve poultry farming conditions.