In a paper presented at the 49^th Western Poultry Conference, a five-state survey of 240 commercial broiler houses in 10 broiler complexes was conducted. The results were that ammonia levels creep up when temperatures rise and can cause decreased weights, increased feed conversion ratios and respiratory damage.

Quite a bit of information exists on winter ammonia levels, and air quality issues are sometimes perceived as important only during the colder months. In the study, ammonia, fan time, relative humidity and floor temperature were recorded. Flocks were from one day to 14 days old. The majority of the houses had used litter, but less than 5 percent of the houses had been cleaned out and less than 5 percent had applied a litter treatment on the flock evaluated.

Intermittent fan times were recorded in 128 of the 240 houses and continuous fans were run in 112 houses. In the houses running fans intermittently, 73 percent had ammonia levels above 20 parts per million, high enough to cause decreased weights, increased feed conversion ratios and respiratory damage. The readings were taken on days when the temperature was 89 degrees F. But even with maximum fan use, many growers were not able to provide good air quality: 37 percent of the houses with continuous fans were above 20 PPM ammonia. The highest ammonia readings were normally taken within 48 hours of chick placement but dad dropped below 30 PPM by the time birds were five to seven days old.

The findings suggest, the authors said, that short down times in the summer can be detrimental and that birds are not routinely being observed on the days of worst air quality.

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