Brian D. Fairchild

Footpad dermatitis in poultry

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is a condition that causes necrotic lesions on the plantar surface of the footpads in growing broilers and turkeys. This condition not only causes downgrades and condemnations of saleable chicken paws, the portion of the leg below the spur, but is also an animal welfare concern in both the United States and in Europe.. Revenue from chicken paws in 2008 alone was worth

Colorimetric polymer-metal nanocomposite sensor of ammonia for the agricultural industry of confined animal feeding operations

280 million. Harvesting large, unblemished paws has become a priority to poultry companies all over the world. Research on this subject has been ongoing since the 1940s and has looked into many different areas including nutrition, environment, and genetics. Early research looked at nutritional deficiencies such as riboflavin and biotin mainly in turkey poults. This early research was most likely looking at a separate form of dermatitis than what is being investigated now. Recent findings have suggested that there is a myriad of interacting factors that lead to FPD. Litter moisture appears to be the most likely culprit in the onset of this condition. Research has also shown a possible genetic link in the susceptibility to development of FPD lesions. Current chicken paw prices have skyrocketed due to a large export market in Asia. To produce unblemished paws for both increased profit and comply with current animal welfare recommendations, further research is needed to understand how the condition develops and what strategies can be used to prevent it.

Electrostatic Space Charge System for Air Quality Improvement in Broiler Production Houses

Abstract. The proposed colorimetric sensor of ammonia for the confined animal feeding industry uses the method of optoelectronic spectroscopic measurement of the reversible change of the color of a nanocomposite reagent film in response to ammonia. The film is made of a gold nanocolloid in a polymer matrix with an ammonia-sensitive indicator dye additive. The response of the indicator dye (increase of the optical absorption between 550 and 650 nm) is enhanced by the nanoparticles (∼8  nm in size) in two ways: (a) concentration of the optical field near the nanoparticle due to the plasmon resonance and (b) catalytic acceleration of the chemical reaction of deprotonization of the indicator dye in the presence of ammonia and water vapor. This enhancement helps to miniaturize the sensing element without compromising its sensitivity of <1 parts per million (ppm) for the range 0 to 100 ppm. The sensor underwent field tests in commercial poultry farms in Georgia and Arkansas and was compared against a scientific-grade photoacoustic gas analyzer. The coefficient of correlation between the sensor and the photoacoustic data for several weeks of continuous side-by-side operation in a commercial poultry house was ∼0.9 and the linear regression slope was 1.0. The conclusions on the necessary improvements were made.

Ammonia and Fine Particulates Inside and Outside Tunnel Ventilated Broiler Houses – A First Look

Reducing airborne dust in enclosed animal housing has been shown to result in corresponding reductions in airborne bacteria, ammonia and odor. Technologies that have been shown to be effective for reducing airborne dust in animal areas include misting with an oil spray, water mists, extra ventilation, and electrostatic space charge systems. Increasing pressure from environmental groups to reduce PM-10 and ammonia emissions from animal housing has led to considerable interest by the poultry and swine industries for practical systems to reduce these air pollutants. This presentation will describe an electrostatic space charge system (ESCS) that was designed to reduce airborne dust and ammonia emissions from a commercial broiler production house. The ESCS for this application was based on patented technology that was developed over a period of several years to reduce airborne dust and pathogens and proven in numerous research trials in poultry hatchers and growout areas. A recently completed study in a small broiler breeder house showed the ESCS reduced airborne dust by an average of 60%, ammonia by 56%, total bacteria by 76%, and it reduced the number of Salmonella infected broilers produced from eggs gathered in the study. Preliminary results of the present study in a broiler production house during the cool months of November through April indicate the ESCS reduced airborne dust by an average of 55% and ammonia by an average of 8% in a house with built-up litter. Later studies will include litter that is fresh or not over a few months old which is expected to improve the effectiveness of the ESCS for ammonia removal since a higher percentage of the ammonia produced would be on the dust that is removed.

Effects of Heavy Application of Litter Amendment on Broiler House Ammonia Concentration

Air emissions from animal feeding operations have become a growing concern. Much work has been done to study occupational exposures and the exhaust concentrations associated with animal facilities, however little information has been provided about air quality around the houses. This study investigates ammonia and PM2.5 (particulate matter = 2.5 um in diameter) inside and outside (up to 152 m from the house) of commercial tunnel-ventilated broiler houses on a farm (6 houses 11 x 130 m) in northeast Georgia. PM2.5 was measured in real time using aerosol monitors and on a time-integrated basis using cyclone samplers. Ammonia was measured using electrochemical sensors. None of the 24-h PM2.5 measures collected when the houses were in tunnel ventilation exceeded the U.S. EPA 24-h National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 65 ug/m3. Ammonia levels outside the house appeared to be considerably less than 1 ppm, but wind direction at the site was not recorded and wind at a remote weather station was contrary to the direction of the sensors on the days that ammonia data were taken. Additional study is needed to confirm these results.

Microbiological Status of Broiler Respiratory Tracts Before and During Catching for Transport to the Processing Plant

Litter amendments for ammonia control have been used extensively by the poultry industry. They are applied prior to chick arrival and are critical in maintaining proper air quality during the brooding period when ventilation rates are the lowest. While effective, these amendments generally are depleted by the time the birds are 10-14 days of age. The objective of this study was to examine whether litter amendment effectiveness can be extended by increasing application rates to reduce overall broiler house ammonia emissions and whether the effect is additive as multiple applications are applied to built-up litter. The study was conducted on a 6-house commercial broiler farm. At the beginning of the study all litter was removed from the houses and clean shavings were applied. A commercial litter amendment (PLT) a product with sodium bisulfate as the active ingredient was applied at the rates of 50, 100, and 150 lbs per 1000 ft2. House temperature, relative humidity and ventilation rates were monitored by the house controller and a computer placed on the farm. Ammonia concentrations were measured with GasTech Dosi-Tubes, Rae draw tubes, and Draeger electrochemical sensors. Litter samples were taken at the end of each flock for mineral analysis. Results indicate that the duration of reduced ammonia production appears to be positively correlated with the amount of sodium bisulfate applied to the house. Litter in the higher treatments retained more N in the form of ammonium than the control indicating that less N had been volatilized as ammonia The addition of increased amounts of litter treatment at the beginning of the flock may reduce ammonia production for an additional week, but additional applications or other solutions will be necessary to control ammonia during the last weeks of production.

Alternative bedding materials and litter depth impact litter moisture and footpad dermatitis

SUMMARY A significant point of entry for Salmonella into a processing plant is within the broilers to be processed. Prior to transport to the processing plant, feed (4 h) and water are withdrawn from the broilers on the farm before they are caught and cooped. During catching, an increased presence of dust in the house air is visible and may affect the presence of bacteria within the broilers respiratory tract. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of catching on the levels of aerobic bacteria (aerobic plate count [APC]), levels and prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae (EB), and prevalence of Salmonella within broiler respiratory tracts. To determine flock Salmonella status 1 wk prior to catching, broiler carcasses were sampled for APC, EB, and Salmonella by respiratory tract flushing and ceca were sampled for Salmonella. At 1 d prior to catching and when half of the broilers in the house were caught, broilers were again collected, transported to the pilot plant, euthanized, and sampled. In Trial 1, there were no significant differences between sampling times for ceca Salmonella or respiratory EB and APC. However, Salmonella prevalence in the respiratory tract was significantly higher at 1 wk preharvest compared to during catching. In Trial 2, EB was significantly lower during catching compared to 1 wk preharvest. No significant differences were detected in Trial 3. Based on these results, the presence of aerosolized dust in the broiler house during catching does not appear to lead to increases in broiler respiratory tract microbial contamination.

Organic polymer-metal nano-composites for opto-electronic sensing of chemicals in agriculture

SUMMARY A function of bedding material in poultry houses is to absorb and release moisture. New bedding is commonly placed at inadequate depths in houses. Pine shavings are the industry standard for bedding material in the majority of the United States, but can be hard to obtain or costly. Alternative materials were tested for moisture absorption and retention. Peat moss and chopped wheat straw were found to absorb nearly 8× and 7× their own weight in moisture, respectively. Peat moss was then used in a broiler study and compared to fresh and used pine shavings for 6 weeks. Body weight was lower at d 7 for the used litter and peat moss treatment compared to fresh shavings with no differences at d 42. No differences in ammonia generation or litter pH were observed. Litter moisture was higher for peat moss through d 14. Paws were better in the fresh shaving and peat moss pens than used shaving pens at both d 21 and 42. Next, different depths of used and fresh shavings on footpad dermatitis (FPD) were examined. Trials 1 and 2 compared 2.5, 7.6, and 12.7 cm of fresh shavings or used litter, respectively. In Trial 1, 2.5 cm had higher litter moisture than 7.6 and 12.7 cm at d 21, 28, and 35 (P < 0.05). The 12.7 cm had better paw scores than 2.5 cm at d 21 and 35 (P < 0.05). In Trial 2, 12.7 cm had lower litter moisture than 2.5 cm at d 28, 35, and 42 (P < 0.05). The paws in 12.7 cm were better than those in 2.5 cm at d 35 and 42 (P < 0.05). There was little difference in paw quality and litter moisture between 7.6 and 12.7 cm litter depth in both trials. Peat moss may be an acceptable alternative bedding material and should be evaluated on a commercial scale in areas where it can be obtained economically. These findings suggest that broiler houses should have at least 7.6 cm of litter to control litter moisture levels and reduce FPD.

Field Evaluation of LED and CFL Lights in Poultry Houses

Recent research findings led the team to conclude that a long lasting and inexpensive colorimetric sensor for monitoring ammonia emission from manure in confined animal feeding operations could eventually become feasible. The sensor uses robust method of opto-electronic spectroscopic measurement of the reversible change of the color of a sensitive nano-composite reagent film in response to ammonia. The film is made of a metal (gold, platinum, or palladium) nano-colloid in a polymer matrix with an ammonia-sensitive indicator dye additive. The response of the indicator dye (increase of the optical absorption in the region 550 to 650 nm) is enhanced by the nano-particles (~10 nm in size) in two ways: (a) concentration of the optical field near the nano-particle due to the plasmon resonance; and (b) catalytic acceleration of the chemical reaction of deprotonization of the indicator dye in the presence of ammonia and water vapor. This enhancement helps to make a miniature and rugged sensing element without compromising its sensitivity of less than 1 ppm for the range 0 to 100 ppm. The sensor underwent field tests in commercial broiler farms in Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas and was compared against a commercial photoacoustic gas analyzer. The sensor output correlated well with the data from the photoacoustic analyzer (correlation coefficient not less than 0.9 and the linear regression slope after calibration close to 1.0) for several weeks of continuous operation. The sources of errors were analyzed and the conclusions on the necessary improvements and the potential use of the proposed device were made.

Monitoring of Ammonia and Fine Particulates Downwind of Broiler Houses

Abstract. The need for energy efficient, cost-effective, reliable light bulbs for broiler production is evident. This paper reports on a field test of three LED and two CFL bulbs in commercial broiler houses over an 18-month period. Differences in dimming curves, lighting efficiency, power/apparent power curves, light distribution, and lumen depreciation were noted for each bulb. Although initial lighting levels were noticeably different, all bulbs except the Life Lamp LED had depreciated within about 6 months to approximately 1.2 to 1.3 ft-candles and remained there for the next 12 months. Life Lamp LED only had 6 months in the test at time of last measurement and appeared to be still depreciating, but was still at 2.5 ft-candles. Some of the bulbs had low power factors, especially when dimmed which is a matter of concern for power companies. Different bulbs will require different programming of dimmers or at least recalibration to achieve desired lighting levels since each bulb tested responded differently to dimmers.