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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #389666
Research Project: Developing Best Management Practices for Poultry Litter to Improve Agronomic Value and Reduce Air, Soil and Water Pollution

Location: Poultry Production and Product Safety Research

Title: Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from broiler chickens can be reduced by growing younger birds

Author
item Moore Jr, Philip
item Horlick, David
item Anderson, Kelsey
item LI, HONG - University Of Delaware
item Miles, Dana

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2022
Publication Date: 3/2/2022
Citation: Moore Jr, P.A., Horlick, D.A., Anderson, K.R., Li, H., Miles, D.M. 2022. Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from broiler chickens can be reduced by growing younger birds. Abstract. 8th International Greenhouse Gas and Animal Conference. Orlando, Florida, June 5-10, 2022.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Emissions of ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gases (GHG) from poultry farms have become of increasing interest during the past decade. The objectives of this research were to: (1) quantify emissions of NH3, nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) from broiler houses, and (2) estimate the amount of gases produced per kilogram of bird grown for flocks of various duration to determine if emissions per kg vary with age. Two broiler houses in NW Arkansas were used. Houses were equipped with gas sampling ports connected to an Innova multi-gas analyzer for continuous monitoring of the gases. Ventilation from all fans in both houses was also continuously monitored. Concentrations and emissions of the four gases were measured during 4-week flocks (n=12), 7-week flocks (n=3) and 8-week flocks (n=4). Average emissions per kg bird for the 4-week flocks were 2.9 g NH3/kg, 0.3 g N2O/kg, 3.5 g CH4/kg, and 658 g CO2/kg. Ammonia emissions per kg increased by 179 and 293% for 7- and 8-week-old birds, respectively, compared to the 4-week old birds. Nitrous oxide emissions per kg increased by 164 and 387% for 7-and 8-week old birds, respectively. Methane emissions increased by 35 and 225% for 7- and 8-week birds, respectively. Carbon dioxide emissions increased by 185 and 351% for 7- and 8-week birds, respectively. Higher emissions from older birds are probably due to less efficient feed conversion as birds age. When emissions were put on a protein basis, significant differences were still present between all ages for CO2 emissions, however, NH3, N2O and CH4 emissions were not different between 7- and 8-week-old birds. These results strongly indicate that growing younger (i.e. - smaller) chickens may be more sustainable, since it results in much lower emissions of NH3 and GHGs per kg of bird produced, while utilizing less feed.