Effect of Air Contaminants on Performance and Quality of Broilers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Influence of contaminants, dust, bacteria, and atmospheric ammonia (NH3) on broiler performance and quality has been pursued by many researchers (see reviews by Lillie, 1970; and Zavaleta and Wilson, 1976). Poultry house dust contains dried feces, feed particles, and feather and epidermal fragments (Koon et al., 1963). Dobie (1964) collected dust from poultry houses and calculated this dust per 1000 cfm for 24 hr was 5.4 g in slatted wall cage houses and 4 times greater in litter houses. The factors of dust, temperature, humidity, and ammonia affect the survival and pathogenicity of certain diseases. Harry and Hemsley (1965) studied coliform populations in deep litter houses and determined wet-mist spraying of litter with formalin reduced populations of coliforms by 99% within 1 day of treatment. Similar results were obtained in 7 days with water and 6 weeks by depopulation of the house. Burmester and Witter (1972) showed that Marek's . . .