Atmospheric Ammonia and Broiler Cockerel Performance

Abstract

Effects of atmospheric ammonia at 0, 25, and 50 ppm in relation to time on broiler cockerels were studied. Average body weights, feed efficiencies, air sac scores, and paired-lung and bursa of Fabricius weights were determined from 10 birds per replicate at 28, 40, and 49 days of age. Carcass condemnations and USDA carcass grades were measured at 49 days of age.Feed efficiency at 49 days of age was significantly affected (P<.01) by ammonia levels. Broilers subjected to 50 ppm ammonia from 1 through 49 days were least efficient. Broilers subjected to 50 and 25 ppm ammonia from 1 to 28 days and adjusted to 25 ppm ammonia from 29 to 49 days were next least efficient, followed by 50 and 25 ppm ammonia groups from 1 to 28 days and reduced to 0 ppm ammonia from 29 to 49 days. Control birds (0 ppm ammonia) from 1 to 49 days were most efficient.Average body weights, air sac scores, lung weights, and bursa of Fabricius weights as a percentage of live body weight, carcass grades, and condemnations were not significantly affected by treatment.The results indicated ammonia levels of 25 and 50 ppm from day of age in conjunction with Newcastle infectious bronchitis (Mass.) vaccination at 21 days of age can adversely affect feed efficiency of broiler cockerels and thereby increase cost of production. (

Mycoplasmose amycoplasma gallisepticum: Realisation d'un modele experimental role de l'ammoniac comme facteur d'exacerbation

“…Les examens en microscopie optique et électronique à balayage indiquent une importance réduction du nombre de cils, ainsi que l'ont rapporté Tajima et al (1979) L'exposition à l'ammoniac d'oiseaux non inoculés permet de connaître les effets de ce gaz dans les conditions expérimentales. Comme Caveny et al (1981), un net ralentissement de la croissance des poulets exposés à ce gaz comparés aux témoins est observé. Des lésions assez discrètes de l'appareil respiratoire sont également notées: elles consistent en une sinusite et une abondance de mucus au niveau trachéal.…”

Ammonia concentration and relative humidity in poultry houses affect the immune response of broilers

“…Additionally, it results in tracheal and pulmonary lesions (Beker et al, 2004), impairs meat and egg quality (Benton and Brake, 2000), and increases animal mortality and morbidity (Beker et al, 2004;Miles, 2004). NH 3 in poultry houses also affects immunological function, reducing specific antibody titers (Caveny et al, 1981) and increasing disease susceptibility (Beker et al, 2004). Moreover, the effects of NH 3 and other simultaneous stressors are generally additive (McFarlane et al, 1989).…”

Antioxidant capacity and meat quality of broilers exposed to different ambient humidity and ammonia concentrations

“…High-concentration ammonia is reported to be capable of decreasing the production capacity of domestic animals, but its effects on meat qualities were rarely reported (Charles and Payne, 1966;Kling and Quarles, 1974;Quarles and Kling, 1974;Reece et al, 1980Reece et al, , 1981Caveny et al, 1981) . Furthermore, most current relevant studies focus on investigating effects of individual ambient factors inside poultry houses on broilers, while few studies focus on effects of combinations of ambient factors inside poultry houses on broilers.…”