INTEGRATED BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM FOR POULTRY WASTE MANAGEMENT

This chapter outlines the results of a demonstration of an innovative and sustainable approach to resource recovery of chicken litter and mortalities; the project aimed to produce a processed poultry litter product 'on farm' that is compliant with the Western Australian Health (Poultry Manure) Regulations 2001 (90% fly reduction), maintains high nitrogen levels, is free of pathogens and has low odour. The project aimed to demonstrate the following objectives: Demonstrate the viability for on-farm poultry litter processing using the FABCOM (R) technology Demonstrate the reduction in fly breeding potential of processed litter and compliance with Health Regulations Demonstrate the improved nitrogen content of the compost and Determine the minimum processing time in the FABCOM system that is required to reduce fly breeding in mixed poultry litter to within compliant levels Impact on phosphate mobility Impact on odour emission of the product Pathogens level in end product The following technical issues associated with the use of poultry litter have been addressed and solved as part of the project: Health Regulations: The processed litter showed 90 - 98 % fly reduction, i.e. 100% Compliance with Health Regulations. Odour Emission: > 80% odour emission reduction in treated poultry litter compared to raw poultry litter. Pathogen Reduction: Pathogen levels were reduced to non detectable and/or compliant with the compost standard (AS 4454). Nitrogen Conservation: Nitrogen retention in the litter was improved significantly compared to conventional litter processing. Phosphate Mobility: Phosphate leachability was reduced by 90% during the process resulting in lower Phosphate leaching potential