Atmospheric ammonia concentration effects on broiler growth and performance

Atmospheric NH3 in poultry facilities has been linked to damaged respiratory tract lining, reduced resistance to respiratory diseases, and increased ascites. Therefore, the effects of graded NH3 concentration (0, 30, 60 ppm) on performance, tracheal lesions, conjuctival lesion, ascites incidence, hematocrit (HCT), blood uric acid (BUR), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were investigated using commercial broilers. Final body weight, feed consumption, and body weight gain were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected as NH3 concentration increased from 0 to 60 ppm. In contrast, gain to feed ratio was depressed (P = 0.05) at 60 ppm NH3. Right ventricular weight (RV), HCT, tracheal lesions, and pulmonary lesions increased with age (P < 0.05) to 21 d but was not affected by atmospheric NH3. These data indicate that NH3 in poultry houses lowers performance and may increase disease susceptibility.