Economics of Controlling Ammonia Emission from Commercial Layer Farms

Abstract

This article presents a model to calculate the level of ammonia emission from commercial layer houses. The first part of the model calculates nitrogen excretion; the second part gives the total ammonia emission from layer houses, manure storage, and manure application. The results show that improved application methods can reduce the ammonia emission in a region at a lower cost than low-nitrogen feed or manure belt drying systems. Results of the separate measures for reducing ammonia emission are not additive. As there are no direct revenues from lowering ammonia emission, governmental regulations requiring such measures, as implemented in the Netherlands, will increase costs for U.S. poultry producers.