Litter management strategies to reduce odour emissions from poultry litter

Abstract

Litter conditions in meat chicken sheds are important for providing a healthy and comfortable environment for the birds and to regulate the emission of odours, which can impact on the surrounding community. Litter is considered the primary source of odour in meat chicken sheds. Mismanagement of litter odour control can result in public annoyances and possible breach of regulations.
Odour emissions from poultry litter are complex due to:
- The existence of multiple odorant sources within litter (i.e. fresh excreta, friable litter and cake);
- Formation and emission of numerous odorants; and
- Significant spatial and temporal variability of moisture content, porosity, pH, ventilation air-flow, temperature, humidity, and bird activity.
To date, there still exists a big knowledge gap in the relationship between specific litter conditions and odour emissions.
To address this knowledge gap as well as to help tailor effective litter odour management strategies, this project pursued the following objectives:
- Investigate how odour emissions from litter, in terms of chemical composition and emission rates, were affected by different litter conditions. Special attention was paid to water as it affects many of the chemical, physical, and microbial properties of litter.
- Review, quantify, and evaluate application of common litter management practices on the formation and emission of odours and odorants from poultry litter.