Harmful effects of ammonia on

birds

Syed Maqsood Haider Jaffery

Factors affecting ammonia production

High litter moisture

Litter depth, composition and PH

Density

Relative humidity

Water spillage

Poor ventilation

Poor litter management

Litter PH

Health status

Diet composition

High ammonia

Manure production

House floor

What is ammonia? Ammonia: is a colorless, highly irritant, alkaline gas which is generated by microbial activity on faecal uric acid when the litter is moist.

Properties of Ammonia:

It is a water soluble gas and can thus be absorbed in dust particles and litter as well as mucus membranes.

It is toxic to animal cells. The known symptoms of ammonia poisoning include: conjunctivitis, coughing, sneezing and dyspnoea.

Effects on PerformanceAmmonia levels and consequences:

10 ppm: Trachea irritation (in turkeys).

20 ppm: Increase rate of infection of Newcastle disease vaccination.

25 ppm: Impaired growth rate and feed conversion. Reduced final body weight.

25 ppm- 50 ppm: Air sac inflamation

50 ppm: Increased levels of keratoconjunctivitis.

100 ppm: Increased chick mortality

People can generally smell ammonia at concentrations between 20 and 30 ppm.

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Factors affecting ammonia concentration in poultry houses are litter conditions and air movement (ventilation). Moisture content, pH and the temperature of the litter, influence the degradation of uric acid by bacteria.Ammonia gas has a characteristic pungent odour.At high concentrations it is irritating to mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and the conjunctivae and corneas of the eyes. Damage to the mucous membranes of the respiratory system increases the susceptibility of birds to bacterial respiratory infection, especially E. coli infection.At 50 & 75PPM NH3, broiler Wt. Reduction 17 &20% respectively at 7 weeks age.

Negative impact on overall liveability, weight gain, feed conversion, condemnation rate at processing and the immune system of the birds.

The effect of ammonia gas on the mucosal surface of the trachea ranges from paralysis of cilia, to deciliation (loss of cilia) of epithelial cells, to injury (necrosis) of the mucosal epithelium itself. Attenuation of the mucosal epithelium, with loss of cilia and increased numbers of goblet cells, are common lesions of aerial ammonia toxicity seen in the tracheas of affected birds.

The type and degree of damage depends on the concentration of ammonia in the air and the length of time of exposure.

Clearance of particles from the respiratory tract of birds is approximately 30 times faster than that of mammals.Atmospheric ammonia at high concentrations causes conjunctivitis (inflammation of conjunctivae) and damages the cornea of the eyes. Almond Shaped Eye.Ammonia induced corneal erosion. The lesion is an almost circular, grey-white, opaque, rough-looking area in the centre of the cornea High incidence of contact dermatitis: foot, hock and breast burns that can be a gateway for bacteria causing further health problems to the birds. Lameness.Ascites. Gastrointestinal irritation.

Eyes are tightly closed

Good management practices Use nipple drinkers.

Use litter material with high water holding capacity. Coarse litter texture can increase the incidence of contact dermatitis compared with fine, soft quality litter.

When the house has concrete floors used no more than 2 inch thick litter (Ekstrand et al., 1997).

Rearing density should be maintained according to the ventilation capacity of the building.

Keep a good ventilation rate in winter.

Minimize overdrinking in breeders by provision of pecking substrates.

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