Broiler performance and litter ammonia levels as affected by sulfur added to the bird's diet

Abstract

Ammonia buildup in poultry houses is a concern for the poultry industry as it can lead to potential losses because of reduced bird performance, damage to the birds' skin and respiratory tract, and loss of customers owing to animal welfare issues. Current methods for ammonia control are useful, but there is considerable variation in ammonia levels from farm to farm. A potential strategy for eliminating this variation would be to approach ammonia management by using a feed additive, thereby increasing uniformity of application among farms and houses. This study tested the effects of using elemental sulfur as a feed additive (feedthrough sulfur) on ammonia levels, live performance, and paw quality of broilers raised on fresh bedding for 3 consecutive experiments. Feedthrough sulfur had no negative or positive effects on bird performance in terms of average BW and feed conversion ratio, and this treatment as well as sodium bisulfate appeared to perform at least in controlling atmospheric ammonia levels. However, no significant difference in ammonia levels was detected between any of the treatments and the control. Final litter pH was lower for feedthrough sulfur–treated birds than that of the control, and the percentage of birds with footpad lesions was lower in 2 of 3 experiments than that of the control. These results indicate that feedthrough sulfur may be a useful litter treatment compared with existing alternatives, though more research is needed to confirm this.