Effect of an acidifying diet combined with zeolite and slight protein reduction on air emissions from laying hens of different ages

• Published in: Poultry science Vol. 86; no. 1; pp. 182 - 190
• Main Authors: Wu-Haan, W, Powers, W J, Angel, C R, Hale, 3rd, C E, Applegate, T J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; Air - analysis; Ammonia - analysis; Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Carbon Dioxide - analysis; Chickens - physiology; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Dietary Proteins - pharmacology; Eggs; Female; Housing, Animal - standards; Hydrogen Sulfide - analysis; Methane - analysis; Nitric Oxide - analysis; Oviposition - physiology; Zeolites - administration & dosage; Zeolites - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1093/ps/86.1.182

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of a reduced-emission (RE) diet containing 6.9% of a CaSO(4)-zeolite mixture and slightly reduced CP to 21-, 38-, and 59-wk-old Hy-Line W-36 hens (trials 1, 2, and 3, respectively) on egg production and emissions of NH(3), H(2)S, NO, NO(2), CO(2), CH(4), and non-CH(4) total hydrocarbons as compared with feeding a commercial (CM) diet. At each age, 640 hens were allocated, randomly to 8 environmental chambers for a 3-wk period. On an analyzed basis, the CM diet contained 18.0, 17.0, and 16.2% CP and 0.25, 0.18, and 0.20% S in trials 1, 2, and 3, and the RE diet contained 17.0, 15.5, and 15.6% CP and 0.99, 1.20, and 1.10% S in trials 1, 2, and 3. Diets were formulated to contain similar Ca and P contents. Average daily egg weight (56.3 g), average daily egg production (81%), average daily feed intake (92.4 g), and BW change (23.5 g), across ages, were unaffected by diet (P > 0.05) over the study period. Age effects were observed for all performance variables and NH(3) emissions (P < 0.05). In trials 1, 2, and 3, daily NH(3) emissions from hens fed the RE diets (185.5, 312.2, and 333.5 mg/bird) were less than emissions from hens fed the CM diet (255.1, 560.6, and 616.3 mg/bird; P < 0.01). Daily emissions of H(2)S across trials from hens fed the RE diet were 4.08 mg/bird compared with 1.32 mg/bird from hens fed the CM diet (P < 0.01). Diet (P < 0.05) and age (P < 0.05) affected emissions of CO(2) and CH(4). A diet effect (P < 0.01) on NO emissions was observed. No diet or age effects (P > 0.05) were observed for NO(2) or non-CH(4) total hydrocarbons. Results demonstrated that diet and layer age influence air emissions from poultry operations.