SYMPOSIA AND ORAL SESSIONS Environment and Management III

Three commercial broiler houses were (12.2 × 152.4 m) were monitored for 3 consecutive flocks. The houses were treated with Poultry Litter Treatment (PLT), 24 h before bird placement at the rate of 24.4 kg /100 m2. PLT was applied in the central brooding area for all 3 flocks and represented the treated (TR) area while the rest of the house remained untreated (UN). Litter samples were obtained before PLT application and at 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36 and 43 d of age at 4 equidistant locations (TR = 2 and UN = 2) in each house. Litter samples were analyzed for pH, moisture, water activity and microbiological analysis. Microbiological analysis included total aerobic, anaerobic, enteric, Cl. perfringens and E. coli counts (cfu/g). Drager CMS analyzer was used for ammonia measurement. PLT application indicated a consistent decrease in ammonia through d 15 in the TR area as compared with the UN area but failed to be significant at P < 0.10. pH levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) with PLT application (TR area) as compared with the UN area for all but one sampling day. Moisture and water activity levels did not show any significant difference at P < 0.10 between the TR or UN areas. PLT application (TR) revealed a slight increase in aerobic bacterial counts over UN, but no significance was detected at P < 0.10. PLT application (TR) showed a significant increase (P < 0.10) in coliform counts on d 8 as compared with the UN area (5.592 vs. 4.466). E. coli counts were significantly increased (P < 0.10) with PLT application on d 8 compared with the UN area (5.311 vs. 4.134). PLT application also showed a significant (P < 0.10) increase in anaerobic bacterial counts as compared with the UN area on day15 (7.631 vs. 7.016).