The influence of graded levels of atmospheric ammonia on chickens

Abstract

Studies have been carried out to ascertain the effects of ammonia on the performance of White Leghorn hens housed in various environments of defined temperature and humidity. At 18° C. and 67 per cent relative humidity, the use of atmospheres containing 105 p.p.m. of ammonia by volume, significantly reduced egg production after 10 weeks’ exposure. No effects were observed on egg quality. However voluntary food intake was reduced in ammoniated atmospheres and live‐weight gain was lower. No recovery in production occurred when the treated groups were maintained for a further 12 weeks in an atmosphere free of ammonia. When White Leghorn hens were housed at an environmental temperature of 28° C., body weight declined. The decrease in live‐weight was greatest at the high ammonia concentration of 102 p.p.m., and was significant after only 1 week's exposure to ammonia. Food intake of the controls was approximately 25 per cent lower at 28° C. than at 18° C., whilst 100 p.p.m. of ammonia further reduced food intake by more than 10 per cent. In one experiment at 28° C., egg production was significantly reduced after 7 weeks' exposure to ammonia. In a subsequent trial, a high protein, vitamin and mineral diet prevented the onset of any deleterious effects of ammonia on egg production, even though food consumption fell to 75 g./bird/day at 29° C., 43 per cent relative humidity and 104 p.p.m. of ammonia. When a diet low in energy level was fed to hens subjected to high concentrations of ammonia, their voluntary food intake did not increase, and their production deteriorated rapidly.