Broiler Chicken Litter Research Articles

Insecticidal effects of wood vinegars produced from organic wastes on harmful almond leaf bee Cimbex quadrimaculata (Müller, 1766) (Hymenoptera: Cimbicidae)

In agricultural activities, there is an increasing need for organic products as alternatives to chemical pesticides. Wood vinegar (WV, pyrolysis liquid) from these alternative potential products is produced as a result of the carbonization process in which it is obtained from organic wastes together with useful products such as energy and biochar. This study was carried out to determine the insecticidal effects of WVs produced from broiler chicken litter and nutshells on the harmful almond leaf wasp Cimbex quadrimaculata Müller, 1766 (Hymenoptera: Cimbicidae). The study was carried out in an almond orchard in Diyarbakır (Eğil district) and Elazığ (Keban district) in the 2019-2021 production seasons. WV mixed solutions (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 10% and 25%) were applied with a back sprayer at the beginning and end of leafing in contaminated almond orchards. The effects of the applications were determined by impact and visual control methods on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st. In the analysis of the obtained data, first of all, normality test was performed. In the analysis of the obtained data, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied. In conclusion; It has been determined that WV-added solutions have a insecticidal effect against harmful almond leaf bees, and the highest decrease in the number of larvae occurs at doses of 10% to 25%. It is important to test these vinegars in different locations with more detailed studies and to conduct detailed bioecological studies depending on the climatic factors and population ecology of the pest in terms of alternative control of the pest. The data of this study contain basic data for almond integrated pest management (IPM) studies.

Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter isolates recovered from consecutively reused broiler litter.

Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States due to consumption of contaminated or mishandled food products, often associated with chicken meat. Campylobacter is common in the microbiota of avian and mammalian gut; however, acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) may result in strains that pose significant threat to public health. Although there are studies investigating the genetic diversity of Campylobacter strains isolated from post-harvest chicken samples, there are limited data on the genome characteristics of isolates recovered from preharvest broiler production. Here, we show that Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli differ in their carriage of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors may also differ in their ability to persist in litter during consecutive grow-out of broiler flocks. We found that presence/absence of virulence factors needed for evasion of host defense mechanisms and gut colonization played an integral role in differentiating Campylobacter strains.

Optimization and Kinetic Study of Ende-Natural Zeolite as Candidates of Ammonia Adsorbent on Broiler Chicken Litter

Zeolite Natural Ende (ZNE) is a local material from Ende, East Nusa Tenggara which can be used as an adsorbent candidate to reduce environmental pollution due to poultry farm wastes. The purpose of this study is to obtain optimal conditions and adsorption kinetics of ZNE as an adsorbent in terms of absorbing NH3, water content, and neutralizing pH on broiler litter. This study consisted of 3 stages such as sample preparation, optimization of acid concentration, particle size, contact time, adsorbate concentration, as well as determination of ZNE-methylene blue adsorption kinetics. The results of the analysis revealed that the best conditions are using 1 M H2SO4, particle size 80 mesh, contact time for 30 minutes with an adsorption capacity of 1.999 mg/g, and methylene blue 80 ppm as an optimal condition. Furthermore, ZNE-methylene blue adsorption kinetics model is the second order type 1 kinetics by R2 = 1, and also adsorption rate constant is 0.0019 g.mg-1.min

Antibiotic use in commercial broiler chicken farming and its consequential resistance development in root colonizing bacteria of carrot grown in manure-applied soils in a middle-income country

Broiler chicken litter (BCL) is a cheap manure for vegetable crops in developing countries. Extensive antibiotic use in poultry production could increase antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in manure and eventually in crop root microbiome. We investigated the prevalence of ARB in BCL from medium- and large-scale farms (n = 33) and in carrot (Daucus carota) grown in BCL-applied soils in Sri Lanka. All the BCL samples contained aerobic bacteria resistant to 10 μg·mL−1 of oxytetracycline or enrofloxacin. The abundance of ARB determined by viable plate-count method ranged from 0.05% to 30.10% of aerobic bacterial population. Soil from two fields applied with BLC for 3 yr (short history, SH) and 10 yr (long history, LH) were treated with BCL (10%, w/w) and oxytetracycline (10 and 100 mg·kg−1) in a pot experiment alongside an unamended control. Adding BCL and oxytetracycline had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the abundance of oxytetracycline-resistant epiphytic and endophytic bacteria (EEB) in carrot roots at harvest. Both total and oxytetracycline-resistant EEB increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the application of BCL to LH soil but not to SH soil. Carrot sold at retailed markets (n = 30) contained epiphytic bacteria resistant to 1 μg·mL−1 oxytetracycline (4.13 ± 0.207 log10CFU·g−1 dry carrot). High minimum inhibitory concentrations for oxytetracycline (≥128 μg·mL−1) were observed in 83% and 50% of ARB isolates obtained from BCL (n = 18) and carrot (n = 24), respectively. Results confirmed that BCL acts as a carrier of ARB, and continuous application of BCL to soil increased the prevalence of ARB among EEB in carrot.

The Effect of Altitude on Broiler’s Litter Microbical Quality that Cultivated at Closed House

This study aims to assess the quality of microbiology which includes the number of bacteria, mould, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria found in broiler chicken litter kept in closed-house. The material used is chicken litter taken from 15 farms in Demak (0-100 masl), Semarang (100-300 masl), and Kendal (300-500 masl). This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 treatments and 5 replications. The results showed that height had a significant effect (P <0.01) on total bacteria and mould in broiler chicken litter. The types of gram-positive bacteria found in the chicken litter are rods (Lactobacillus, and Bacillus), round stems (Clostridium), and coccus (Streptococcus thermophilus). A type of gram-negative bacteria found on rod-shaped stretchers belong to the Coliform and Pseudomonas families. The conclusion of this study is that land elevation has an effect on the microbiological quality of broiler chickens kept in closed cages.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of microbiomes and resistomes in broiler litter stockpiles

Farmers apply broiler chicken litter to soils to enrich organic matter and provide crops with nutrients, following varying periods of stockpiling. However, litter frequently harbors fecal-derived microbial pathogens and associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and may be a source of microbial contamination of produce. We coupled a cutting-edge Loop Genomics long-read 16S rRNA amplicon-sequencing platform with high-throughput qPCR that targeted a suite of ARGs, to assess temporal (five time points over a 60-day period) and spatial (top, middle and bottom layers) microbiome and resistome dynamics in a broiler litter stockpile. We focused on potentially pathogenic species from the Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae families associated with food-borne disease. Bacterial diversity was significantly lower in the middle of the stockpile, where targeted pathogens were lowest and Bacillaceae were abundant. E. coli was the most abundant Enterobacteriaceae species, and high levels of the opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecium were detected. Correlation analyses revealed that the latter was significantly associated with aminoglycoside (aac(6′)-Ib(aka aacA4), aadA5), tetracycline (tetG), vancomycin (vanC), phenicol (floR) and MLSB (mphB) resistance genes. Staphylococcaceae were primarily non-pathogenic, but extremely low levels of the opportunistic pathogen S. aureus were detected, as was the opportunistic pathogen S. saprophyticus, which was linked to vancomycin (vanSA, vanC1), MLSB (vatE, ermB) and tetracycline (tetK) resistance genes. Collectively, we found that stockpile microbiomes and resistomes are strongly dictated by temporal fluctuations and spatial heterogeneity. Insights from this study can be exploited to improve stockpile management practice to support sustainable antimicrobial resistance mitigation policies in the future.

The feasibility of fermented litter as a feed ingredient for ruminant livestock.

Objective:The feasibility of fermented litter as an alternative feed material for ruminant livestock is measured by organoleptic quality, fiber profile, heavy metal contamination, and the presence of worm eggs. This study aimed to examine the influence of broiler chicken litter fermentation with different fermentation lengths on organoleptic quality, and contents of cuprum (Cu), lead (Pb), worm eggs, fiber fractions including hemicellulose, cellulose, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, and fermented litter fiber profile through analysis of scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX).Materials and Methods:This study used a complete randomized design of a unidirectional pattern with four treatments and four repeats with long fermentation treatments of 0, 3, 6, and 9 weeks.Result:The results showed a real influence (p ≤ 0.05) of fermentation length on organoleptic quality, NDF, ADF, lignin, hemicellulose, and fiber profile with SEM-EDX observations, with no presence of worm eggs and heavy metal content is still at a safe level for feed materials.Conclusion:This study concluded that the processing of broiler chicken litter with 6 weeks of fermentation gave the best results on organoleptic observations, fiber profile, no presence of worm eggs, and heavy metal contamination that is safe for livestock.

Efforts to reduce ammonia gas in broiler chicken litter with the use of probiotics

Ammonia is gas that can reduce livestock performance. The decrease in ammonia litter gas can be done by increasing the nutrient digestibility and inhibiting the uricase enzyme activity in the excreta. One way that can be done is by using probiotic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of probiotics as an effort to reduce levels of ammonia gas in broiler chicken litter with its application through drinking water and spraying on the litter. The animals were distributed into 4 treatments and 5 replications each of which consisted of 20 broiler chickens (10 male and 10 female). The design used in this study was a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were analyzed by using Analisis of Variance (ANOVA). The treatment used in this study was T0 = basal diet, T1 = T0 + Probiotic in drinking water, T2 = T0 + Probiotics Spray on litter, T3 = T0 + T1 + T2. Data showed that application of probiotic spray on litter and the combination can reduce significantly (P<0.01) the concentration of ammonia litter broiler cage. There was no effect on the pH and moisture of broiler cage litter.

Poultry Litter Band Placement Affects Accessibility and Conservation of Nutrients and Cotton Yield

Core Ideas Applying manures in subsurface bands is more efficient than surface broadcasting.Applying litter in single “thick” subsurface band per row leads to greater nutrient conservation than splitting the litter into multiple “thinner” bands.Litter band accessibility to young cotton plants is greater with multiple rather than single bands per row.Subsurface banding is more effective than surface banding for cotton yield. Subsurface manure band placement relative to the plant row may affect crop growth and yield by affecting nutrient accessibility and conservation. The objective of this study was to determine whether poultry litter band placement affects cotton yield by affecting nutrient accessibility and conservation. Fresh broiler chicken litter (6.1 Mg ha−1 yr−1) applied in subsurface bands spaced 1.02 m apart (wide) (SSw) was compared against the same litter rate applied in subsurface (SSn) or surface (SFn) bands spaced 0.30 m apart (narrow). An unfertilized control (UFC) and a standard treatment fertilized with synthetic fertilizers (Std) were also included. No‐till cotton was planted parallel to the litter bands at 1.02‐m row spacing. The SSw treatment resulted in 14% more lint yield than the SSn treatment 2 yr after stopping litter applications. The SSw treatment also increased wheat cover crop biomass by ≥20% relative to the SSn treatment. The SSw treatment did not increase lint yield in the same season litter was applied (2010–2012), because the 6.1 Mg ha−1 litter (163 kg ha−1 total N) applied in subsurface bands spaced at 1.02 m exceeded the optimum. Higher tissue N and K concentrations and greater biomass in young (1 mo) cotton plants suggested that litter band accessibility in the early stages is greater with multiple rather than single bands per row. The results overall suggest applying litter in single “thick” subsurface band per row leads to greater conservation of the litter and its nutrients than splitting the litter into multiple “thinner” subsurface bands.

Litter reuse reduces Eimeria spp oocyst counts and improves the performance in broiler chickens reared in a tropical zone in Ecuador

Summary The effect of recycling broiler chicken litter 2 or 3 times, on Eimeria spp oocyst counts and chicken growing performance at 35 days of age, was evaluated under a tropical climate in Ecuador. Second and third cycled litter had more oocysts per g of litter (opgl) than new bedding ( P<0.05) at 1, 7 and 14 days of age; however, opgl was higher ( P<0.05) in the first litter used than in the 2nd or 3rd cycled litters from broilers between 21 to 35 days of age. Feed conversion ratio was higher ( P<0.05) in chickens from the first litter used, compared to the 2nd and 3rd cycled litters; meanwhile, body weight, daily weight gain, feed consumption, and the European production efficiency factor were lower ( P<0.05) for the chickens reared on new bedding than in broilers reared on recycled litter. Accumulated mortality was lower ( P<0.05) in chickens reared on a 3rd cycled litter. Results of this study suggest that recycling litter is a good option for diminishing poultry litter production and improving the performance of broiler chickens.

Effects of Chicken Litter Storage Time and Ammonia Content on Thermal Resistance of Desiccation-Adapted Salmonella spp.

Broiler chicken litter was kept as a stacked heap on a poultry farm, and samples were collected up to 9 months of storage. Chicken litter inoculated with desiccation-adapted Salmonella cells was heat-treated at 75, 80, 85, and 150°C. Salmonella populations decreased in all these samples during heat treatment, and the inactivation rates became lower in chicken litter when storage time was extended from 0 to 6 months. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in thermal resistance of Salmonella in 6- and 9-month litter samples, indicating that a threshold for thermal resistance was reached after 6 months. Overall, the thermal resistance of Salmonella in chicken litter was affected by the storage time of the litter. The changes in some chemical, physical, and microbiological properties during storage could possibly contribute to this difference. Moisture and ammonia could be two of the most significant factors influencing the thermal resistance of Salmonella cells in chicken litter. Our results emphasize the importance of adjusting time and temperature conditions for heat processing chicken litter when it is removed from the chicken house at different time intervals.

Fertilizing value of broiler litter: Effects of drying and pelletizing

The effects of drying and pelletizing on the properties of broiler chicken litter, obtained from a farm in northwest Spain, were investigated. The drying and pelletizing process reduced among-batch variability in dry matter content, electrical conductivity, urea N, and K, S, Na, Fe, Cu and Cd contents, but increased among-batch variability in total N, ammonium N, nitrate N, total P and pH. N form contents in the pelletized product could be estimated with reasonable accuracy on the basis of dry matter content. Cr, Cu and Cd contents were all significantly lower in the dried pelletized product than in fresh litter, whereas Pb content was significantly higher. The dried pelletized product is of course clearly preferable to the fresh product as regards storage and handling, however, our results suggest a need to optimize the production process with the aim of reducing possible contamination during manufacture, and of minimizing variability in N form contents, P content and pH.

Broiler chicken litter application timing effect on Coastal bermudagrass in southeastern U.S.

Presently, more than 85% of the broiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter (BCL) is being applied to pasture lands year-round. This practice results in nutrient losses and potentially unfavorable environmental impacts particularly during the wet winter months. A field plot experiment was initiated in 2001 on a Ruston silt loam in Mize, MS to identify the proper BCL application timing that enhances BCL nutrient uptake by crops while minimizing undesirable nutrient buildup in soil. Seven treatments (BCL application timings) were employed on previously established “Coastal” hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] plots. For each treatment, the quantity of broiler chicken litter (a mixture of chicken manure plus bedding materials) needed for each plot was calculated based on the BCL total N content to provide 400 kg N ha−1 for top bermudagrass yield (18 Mg ha−1) and applied either as a single, two-way split, or three-way split at different dates as follow: May; May/June; April/May/June; May/June/July; June/July/August; July/August/September; and August/September/October. Bermudagrass was harvested 5 times each year for dry matter (DM) and nutrient uptake determination. Significant differences in DM yield were observed in each year among application timings. The greatest DM yield was 18.6 Mg ha−1 for the single application in May and lowest at 15.0 Mg ha−1 for Aug/Sep/Oct application dates in 2001 and followed by the same trend in 2002. The N and P uptake by bermudagrass ranged from 270 to 381, and 53 to 63 kg ha−1 respectively, in 2001. Similar trend, but lower values for nutrient uptake were observed in 2002. Significant differences were observed among BCL application timings in regard to soil residual of total carbon (TC), total nitogen (TN), Mehlich 3 extracted P (M3-P), NO3–N, Cu, and Fe elements at the end of the study. In general, summer and early fall BCL applications resulted in greater buildup of most of these elements. Based on the results of this study, there is a wide window (May–July) for BCL application timing on bermudagrass considering the criteria of producing high yield and low soil residual nutrient. However, the best BCL application timing should be in spring (late April–June) when minimum temperatures exceed those required (24–27°C) for bermudagrass growth.

Composting Coal Ash With Poultry Litter For Topsoil Manufacture

This paper describes the progress of studies using coal ash mixed with organic byproducts in a compost process as a means of converting ash to a desirable commercial product. Mixtures of fly and bottom ash, broiler chicken litter manure, sawdust and pine bark were successfully composted during the winter of 1994. The recipes and compost procedures for production of the manufactured soils are described. The physical, biological and chemical properties of the manufactured soils are being studied and the initial results presented.

Factors affecting the concentration of testosterone in poultry litter

Abstract Poultry litter used as cattle feed can contain high levels of testosterone (>400 ng/g) and estrogen (>300 ng/g) which can interfere with reproduction. However such high levels of testosterone are not usually found in broiler chicken litter (< 6% of samples). We tested the following parameters to determine what factors could be responsible for highly elevated concentrations of testosterone: sex, age, fermentation. It was found that (1) there is no difference in testosterone content in poultry litter obtained from male (133±12 ng/g) or female broilers (133±13 ng/g); (2) poultry litter from adult roosters have unacceptably high levels of testosterone (670±95 ng/g) and layers have high levels of estrogens (533±50 ng/g); (3) although fermentation of poultry manure generally lowers steroidal hormone content, if antibiotics are added to the incubation, there was a a five‐fold increase in radioimmunoassayable testosterone content (controls 94±6 ng/g vrs treated 578±80 ng/g).

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<h3>Abstract</h3> Fostering a ’balanced’ gut microbiome through the administration of beneficial microbes that can competitively exclude pathogens has gained a lot of attention and use in human and animal medicine. However, little is known about how microbes affect the horizontal gene transfer of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To shed more light on this question, we challenged neonatal broiler chicks raised on reused broiler chicken litter – a complex environment made up of decomposing pine shavings, feces, uric acid, feathers, and feed, with <i>Salmonella</i> Heidelberg (<i>S</i>. Heidelberg), a model pathogen. Neonatal chicks challenged with <i>S</i>. Heidelberg and raised on reused litter were more resistant to <i>S</i>. Heidelberg cecal colonization than chicks grown on fresh litter. Furthermore, chicks grown on reused litter were at a lower risk of colonization with <i>S</i>. Heidelberg strains that encoded AMR on IncI1 plasmids. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics to show that the major difference between chicks grown on fresh litter and reused litter was the microbiome harbored in the litter and ceca. The microbiome of reused litter samples was more uniform and enriched in functional pathways related to the biosynthesis of organic and antimicrobial molecules than fresh litter samples. We found that <i>E. coli</i> was the main reservoir of plasmids encoding AMR and that the IncI1 plasmid was maintained at a significantly lower copy per cell in reused litter compared to fresh litter. These findings support the notion that commensal bacteria play an integral role in the horizontal transfer of plasmids encoding AMR to pathogens like <i>Salmonella</i>. <h3>Importance/Significance</h3> Antimicrobial resistance spread is a worldwide health challenge, stemming in large part, from the ability of microorganisms to share their genetic material through horizontal gene transfer. To address this issue, many countries and international organization have adopted a One health approach to curtail the proliferation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. This includes the removal and reduction of antibiotics used in food animal production and the development of alternatives to antibiotics. However, there is still a significant knowledge gap in our understanding of how resistance spreads in the absence of antibiotic selection and the role commensal bacteria play in reducing antibiotic resistance transfer. In this study, we show that commensal bacteria play a key role in reducing the horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance to <i>Salmonella</i> and provide the identity of the bacterial species that potentially perform this function in broiler chickens and also postulate the mechanism involved.