Chapter 14 - Litter Treatments

Litter treatment amendments can be an effective management tool to reduce ammonia, but they are not a substitute for ventilation. Some growers have experienced variable results with litter amendments among flocks. The variation is partially attributable to not heating the house prior to applying the litter treatment. If the ammonia is not removed before applying the litter treatment, then the product will be tied up with the existing ammonia. Thus, a reduced amount of litter treatment will be available for the ammonia generate by the birds. Also, some litter treatments require a certain amount of moisture for activation.