(PLT) As a Litter Treatment
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ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Sodium Bisulfate (PLT) ANR-1208 as a Litter Treatment he detrimental effects of ammonia in experimental study evaluating the various litter treat- poultry production have been known for ment products under various management conditions. Litter moisture, brooding and lighting programs, years. Numerous laboratory and field ambient temperature, strain type, ventilation manage- studies have shown how ammonia affects ment, litter management, and disease challenge are T only a few of the variables that can impact product bird health and performance. Continued exposure selection, efficacy, and potential return on investment. to ammonia levels in the poultry house as low as In the selection of a litter treatment product, one must identify the goals for application. Litter 10 parts per million (ppm) can damage the bird’s treatments may be cost-effective and justifiable respiratory system and allow infectious agents to under one or more of the following situations: • High fuel prices become established, leading to declining flock • Extremely cold weather health and performance. In addition, body weight, • Short layout periods feed efficiency, and condemnation rate will be • Persistent disease challenges poorer in birds exposed to levels of ammonia that • Severe vaccination reactions • Reduced ammonia-related stress exceed 25 ppm. • Prolonged litter reuse The volatilization of ammonia has been attrib- • Increased bird density uted to microbial decomposition of nitrogenous compounds, principally uric acid, in poultry house • Needed marginal management litter. Litter pH plays an important role in ammonia or housing situations volatilization. Once formed, free ammonia will be Litter treatments may be used to enhance the in one of two forms: as the uncharged form of NH composition of the litter as a fertilizer or as part of 3 a best management practice to reduce food-borne or the ammonium ion (NH4), depending on the pH of the litter. Ammonia concentration tends to pathogens. Ammonia-reducing litter treatments increase with increasing pH. Ammonia release offer a potentially better in-house environment for remains small when litter pH is below 7, but can both birds and growers. They may also play an be substantial when litter pH is above 8. Uric acid increasing role in reducing ammonia and odor decomposition is most favored under alkaline emissions from poultry facilities. In recent years, (pH>7) conditions. Uricase, the enzyme that cat- the reasons for using a litter treatment and any alyzes uric acid breakdown, has maximum activity potential benefits from its use have expanded to at a pH of 9 with uric acid decreasing linearly for include improvements in performance and environ- more acid or alkaline pH values. One principal ure- mental concerns. Although different litter treatments olytic bacterium, Bacillus pasteurii, cannot grow at vary in their ability to control ammonia, each offers neutral pH, but thrives in litter above 8.5. Typically, a unique set of characteristics that need to be con- litter pH in a broiler house ranges between 9 and sidered in selecting the appropriate product to 10. The combination of these factors contributes to meet an individual’s needs. The litter treatment that ammonia formation and volatilization within the offers the best return on investment will depend on poultry house environment. the user’s ability to select the product that best One primary question for poultry growers is “What meets the overall goals of his application. is the best litter treatment?” Unfortunately, this most Poultry Litter Treatment (PLT) is a dry granular frequently asked question has no general answer, and additive used extensively by the poultry industry for the difficulties in addressing this question may be poultry house ammonia control, litter acidification, complicated and numerous. There has never been an on-farm HACCP programs for pathogen reduction, www.aces.edu and in the prevention of many bacterial or stress- houses, this will equal 800 to 1,000 pounds of PLT related poultry conditions. PLT is a unique blend of per house for each grow-out. A rate of 50 pounds sodium bisulfate and other ingredients and is con- per 1,000 square feet will control ammonia produc- sidered a nonhazardous and nontoxic substance tion and reduce the growth of microorganisms in classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) the litter. Rate selection for an individual’s opera- and a food-grade substance. PLT eliminates tion will be dependent on current management ammonia by converting litter ammonium to ammo- practices and needs, based on such factors as venti- nium sulfate, lowering litter pH to acidify litter, and lation control and litter moisture levels. Higher providing potent ionic effects that enhance acidifi- rates may be recommended where high ammonia cation. PLT was the first nonhazardous and non- conditions prevail, due to increased litter age or toxic litter treatment used in an overall total litter short down times. PLT can also be safely applied management program. with birds in the house to address specific disease Experiments and field tests using PLT resulted or management issues that occur post-placement. in the following: Before PLT application, the broiler house needs • Decreased fuel usage to be de-caked or rototilled. Afterward, PLT can be • Decreased house ammonia levels broadcast at the chosen level using a cyclone spreader. During application, gloves, a long-sleeved • Decreased litter pH levels shirt, and long pants should be worn to prevent • Improved performance skin irritation and burns. Goggles should be worn • Reduced bacterial populations of Salmonella and for eye protection, and a dust mask should be Campylobacter worn to prevent dust inhalation. • Lowered darkling beetle populations Research has demonstrated cost savings to the Ammonia (NH3) produced from poultry manure poultry producer from the use of PLT. Cost savings by the breakdown of uric acid can be inhibited if can be realized due to a reduction in heating and + converted to NH4 (ammonium), which can be ventilation costs and improvements in perfor- accomplished by lowering litter pH. Sodium bisul- mance. PLT treatment of litter will increase the fate, commonly referred to as PLT, is an acid that nitrogen content of the litter, creating a more valu- produces hydrogen ions (H+) when it dissolves, able source of fertilizer. and the hydrogen ions produced by this reaction will attach to ammonia to form ammonium, which Summary further reacts with sulfate ions to form ammonium • Using sodium bisulfate (PLT) as a litter amend- sulfate—(NH ) SO . Ammonium sulfate is simply a 4 2 4 ment can effectively reduce in-house ammonia water-soluble fertilizer. Because of these reactions, volatilization and improve performance. the amount of ammonia emitted from the litter will be reduced, which will increase the nitrogen (N) • A rate of 50 pounds per 1,000 square feet will content of the litter. The use of PLT in broiler litter provide ammonia control and pathogen reduc- management can impact performance and environ- tion. mental concerns. • PLT does not negatively impact the fertilizer or A rate of 50 pounds of PLT per 1,000 square feeding value of litter. feet of floor space is the typical recommendation • Wear protective gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long for the treatment of broiler litter. For most broiler pants, goggles, and a mask when applying PLT. John P. Blake, Extension Poultry Scientist and Professor, and Joseph B. Hess, Extension Poultry Scientist and Associate Professor, both in the Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might be similar. For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, ANR-1208 sex, age, veteran status, or disability. ECP, 3M, New May 2001, ANR-1208.