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Effect of an Acidifying Diet Combined with Zeolite and Slight Protein Reduction on Air Emissions from Laying Hens of Different Ages

W. Wu-Haan^*, W. J. Powers^*,1, C. R. Angel, C. E. Hale, III and T. J. Applegate

^* Iowa State University, Ames 50011; University of Maryland, College Park 20742; Rose Acres Farms, Seymour, IN 47274; and Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

¹ Corresponding author: wpowers{at}iastate.edu

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of a reduced-emission (RE) diet containing 6.9% of a CaSO₄-zeolite mixture and slightly reduced CP to 21-, 38-, and 59-wk-old Hy-Line W-36 hens (trials 1, 2, and 3, respectively) on egg production and emissions of NH₃, H₂S, NO, NO₂, CO₂, CH₄, and non-CH₄ total hydrocarbons as compared with feeding a commercial (CM) diet. At each age, 640 hens were allocated, randomly to 8 environmental chambers for a 3-wk period. On an analyzed basis, the CM diet contained 18.0, 17.0, and 16.2% CP and 0.25, 0.18, and 0.20% S in trials 1, 2, and 3, and the RE diet contained 17.0, 15.5, and 15.6% CP and 0.99, 1.20, and 1.10% S in trials 1, 2, and 3. Diets were formulated to contain similar Ca and P contents. Average daily egg weight (56.3 g), average daily egg production (81%), average daily feed intake (92.4 g), and BW change (23.5 g), across ages, were unaffected by diet (P > 0.05) over the study period. Age effects were observed for all performance variables and NH₃ emissions (P < 0.05). In trials 1, 2, and 3, daily NH₃ emissions from hens fed the RE diets (185.5, 312.2, and 333.5 mg/bird) were less than emissions from hens fed the CM diet (255.1, 560.6, and 616.3 mg/bird; P < 0.01). Daily emissions of H₂S across trials from hens fed the RE diet were 4.08 mg/bird compared with 1.32 mg/bird from hens fed the CM diet (P < 0.01). Diet (P < 0.05) and age (P < 0.05) affected emissions of CO₂ and CH₄. A diet effect (P < 0.01) on NO emissions was observed. No diet or age effects (P > 0.05) were observed for NO₂ or non-CH₄ total hydrocarbons. Results demonstrated that diet and layer age influence air emissions from poultry operations.

Key Words: hen • air emission • diet • ammonia • hydrogen sulfide

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION REFERENCES

 
It is documented that gaseous emissions from laying hen feeding operations can have potential negative effects on the environment and on human and bird health. Feeding diets formulated to reduce excess CP reduced N excreted, resulting in lower NH₃ emissions (Elwinger and Svensson, 1996). Acidogenic materials reduce manure pH, resulting in the protonation of NH₃ to NH₄⁺, which is less volatile (McCrory and Hobbs, 2001). Gypsum is one of the acidogenic compounds that has been tested and can also serve to partially replace limestone as a Ca source in laying hen diets without reducing laying hen performance (Keshavarz, 1991). Zeolite has been shown to be a beneficial feed additive that exhibits a strong preference for binding nitrogenous cations like NH₄⁺, resulting in lower, but inconsistent, NH₃ emission (Nakaue and Koelliker, 1981) when included at 10%. A study conducted by Hale (2005) showed that using a reduced-protein diet in combination with acidogenic materials, such as CaSO₄ and nitrogenous binding compounds like zeolite, decreased NH₃ concentration (as measured in vitro) from laying hen excreta. However, the effectiveness of feeding such a diet on all gaseous emissions in vivo has not been reported. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the effectiveness of feeding a reduced-emissions (RE) diet containing 6.9% of a CaSO₄-zeolite mixture that replaced 35% of the limestone and slightly reduced protein to laying hens of different ages on short-term hen performance and emissions of NH₃, H₂S, NO, NO₂, CO₂, CH₄, and non-CH₄ total hydrocarbon (NMTHC) as compared with feeding a commercial (CM) diet.

	MATERIALS AND METHODS

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Experimental Birds and Design
The study consisted of 3 trials utilizing Hy-Line W-36 hens, starting at 21 (trial 1), 38 (trial 2), and 59 wk (trial 3) of age. During each experimental age, laying hens were fed for a 3-wk period. All hens were obtained at the respective ages from commercial high-rise laying hen houses (Rose Acre Farms, Stuart, IA) within 1 h of the research location. Laying hens were moved to the research location 5 d before the start of each trial.

The experiment was designed with 2 treatments. During each experimental phase, a total of 640 hens (initial BW = 1.36, 1.47, and 1.52 kg in trials 1, 2, and 3, respectively) were allocated randomly to 1 of 8 chambers (indirect calorimeters) that were built to allow for continuous monitoring of emissions from livestock. In each chamber, 80 birds were divided among 4 2-cage units (10 birds/cage, 355 cm² of cage space/bird). Diets were assigned randomly to each of the 8 chambers (4 chambers/diet), with the chamber constituting the experimental unit.

Diets and Management
All diets were formulated to meet NRC (1994) nutrient requirements for laying hens. Feed (approximately 95, 97, and 99 g/hen per d in trials 1, 2, and 3, respectively) was offered twice daily (0600 and 1600 h) in a mash form, and feed intake was recorded weekly on a 2-cage unit basis (20 birds/unit). Samples of diets were retained weekly for determination of nutrient content. Composition of experimental diets is shown in Table 1.

Bird Measures
Hens were weighed at the beginning and end of each age period. Body weight change (BWC) within each chamber was calculated by subtracting the average chamber BW at the beginning of each trial from the average chamber BW at the end of each trial. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) of each chamber was calculated based on that week’s total feed consumption, divided by 7 d and the number of birds present. Eggs were collected daily from each 2-cage unit, and egg weight and number were recorded daily. Excreta production was determined at the end of each age phase, and a subsample was collected for compositional analysis. Average daily egg weights (ADEW), average daily egg production (ADEP), ADFI, and BWC over the study period were calculated at the end of each trial.

Measurements of Gaseous Concentrations
Eight chambers (2.14 x 3.97 x 2.59 m) were designed to continuously measure incoming and exhaust concentrations of NH₃, H₂S, NO, NO₂, CO₂, CH₄, and NMTHC. Ammonia and NO were measured using a chemiluminescence NH₃ analyzer (model 17C, Thermal Environmental Instruments, Franklin, MA), which is a combination of an NH₃ converter and NO-NO₂-NOx analyzer. Hydrogen sulfide was analyzed using pulsed fluorescence H₂S-SO₂ analyzer (model 450C, Thermal Environmental Instruments). Carbon dioxide was monitored using the BINOS 100 2M dual gas detector (Rosemount Analytical Inc., Orrville, OH). Methane and NMTHC were measured by flame ionization detector (model 200, VIG Industries Inc., Anaheim, CA). During trial 1, NMTHC data were not available due to the absence of calibration gases. Through software control, gaseous concentration monitoring of each chamber occurred in a sequential manner, beginning first with incoming air for 20 min, then through each of the 8 chambers’ exhaust airs for 15 min, with all gases measured simultaneously within a sample stream. Airflow rates into and out of each chamber were measured accurately using orifice plates, calibrated for each chamber under specific ranges of conditions. Cumulative NH₃, H₂S, NO, NO₂, CO₂, CH₄, and NMTHC emissions from each chamber were calculated daily by averaging all recordings for that day (10 to 11 daily observations per chamber). Based on light periods, daytime and nighttime emissions were determined. The average daily gaseous emissions in each chamber were expressed as emission rate (mg/min), cumulative total mass (mg), daytime mass (mg), nighttime mass (mg), milligrams per kilogram of BW, and milligrams per hen.

Statistical Analyses
Performance data were analyzed using a GLM procedure, and emissions data were analyzed using a MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute, 1990). For ADEW, ADEP, ADFI, and BWC variables, the model included the fixed effects of chamber and diet (CM and RE diets), the interaction between chamber and diet. For emissions data, the model tested the fixed effects of diet, age, and the interaction of diet and age on emission. Date was treated as a random variable. Significant differences among the means were declared at P 0.05.

	RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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Hen Performance
The effect of feeding an acidified diet combined with zeolite and slightly reduced protein on ADEW, ADEP, and ADFI is presented in Table 2. Across ages, the ADEW (56.3 g), ADEP (81.0%), ADFI (92.4 g/hen per d), and BWC (23.5 g/hen) of hens fed the RE diet were not different from hens fed the CM diet.

Across ages, birds fed both the CM and RE diets performed similarly to the performance outlined for Hy-Line W-36 laying hens (Hy-Line International, 2003). Our findings were similar to work conducted by Keshavarz (2003), who reported ADEW of 51.5, 56.2, and 59.7 g; ADEP of 81.2, 73.9, and 69.3%; and ADFI of 91.1, 91.5, and 96.0 g at 20 to 35, 36 to 51, and 52 to 63 wk of age, respectively.

NH₃ Emissions
Across ages, the RE diet reduced the daily mass of NH₃ emitted (mg/hen) by 39% (Table 3). Daily emissions of NH₃ from hens fed the RE diet (185.5, 312.2, and 333.5 mg/hen) were significantly less than from hens fed the CM diet (255.1, 560.6, and 616.3 mg/hen) in the 21-, 38-, and 59-wk trials, respectively. Feeding the RE diet decreased the daily emission rate of NH₃ emitted from all 3 age groups (16.3 vs. 26.9 mg/min, Table 3). The RE diet also reduced the cumulative NH₃ emission mass (mg) over the 3 ages studied by 39% (22,628 compared with 37,269 mg, Table 3). Daily emission of NH₃ adjusted for total live weight from hens fed the RE diet (203.4 mg/kg of BW) was less than daily emissions of NH₃ from hens fed the CM diet (334.1 mg/kg of BW).

Heber et al. (2004) measured emissions from a modern high-rise egg laying house using a chemiluminescence method along with multipoint extractive gas sampling and found that the average daily means of NH₃ concentrations were 2.4, 16.1, and 43.3 mg/m³ for inlet, cage, and exhaust air, respectively, and the net NH₃ emission rate was 387 ± 25 kg/d or 1.57 ± 0.10 g/d per hen. Liang et al. (2005) reported an annual average NH₃ emission rate of 0.87 ± 0.29 g/d per hen for the high-rise houses, 0.094 ± 0.062 g/d per hen for the manure-belt houses with semiweekly manure removal, and 0.054 ± 0.026 g/d per hen for the manure-belt houses with daily manure removal. In the current study, NH₃ emissions were determined in chambers over a 3-wk period with manure accumulation for the duration of the test period. Average NH₃ emission was 0.47 ± 0.03 g/d per hen when fed a CM diet, which was lower than the value reported by Liang et al. (2005) for high-rise houses but greater than reported values for houses employing a manure belt. This suggests that had the experimental period been longer than 3 wk, average daily NH₃ emissions may have been more similar to emissions reported from high-rise housing.

H₂S Emissions
Daily H₂S emissions from hens fed the RE diet (1.6, 7.1, and 3.7 mg/hen) were greater than from hens fed the CM diet (0.5, 1.9, and 0.8 mg/hen) at 21, 38, and 59 wk of age, respectively (Table 4). Feeding the RE diet also increased the cumulative H₂S emission mass 3-fold across all 3 age groups (322.8 vs. 104.9 mg). Daily H₂S emission adjusted for total live weight from hens fed the RE diet (2.9 mg/kg of BW) was more than that from hens fed the CM diet (0.9 mg/kg of BW). Lim et al. (2003) reported H₂S emissions from high-rise laying hen houses of 0.432 mg/kg of BW, which is about half of the emission observed in the current study when hens were fed the CM diet. Differences are likely due to the amount of time that excreta had been stored. Although H₂S emissions increased 3-fold as a result of feeding the RE diet, the increase was not to the extent that most laying hen operations would trigger federal reporting requirements. Over 10 million hens would be needed on a single site for those reporting requirements to be exceeded.

Whitney et al. (1999) found that a mean reduction of 23% in the S concentration of nursery pigs diets during a 5-wk period tended to reduce H₂S emissions from the stored manure, although this tendency was not significant. It was shown by J. Shurson, M. Whitney, and R. Nicolai (Univ. Minnesota, St. Paul, personal communication) that S excretion was reduced by 30%, by selecting low-S feed ingredients, without affecting their growth. In the current study, CaSO₄, a S-containing compound, was added to the diet as an acidifying agent. This additional dietary S combined with the acidifying effect of the CaSO₄ likely caused the increased H₂S production. Because feed is ultimately the major source of manure S, 1 method of mitigating manure H₂S emissions is to reduce dietary S. This can be done by reducing excess nutrients, selecting low-S ingredients, or including additives that improve digestive efficiency or alter the microflora in the large intestine (Clark et al., 2005). In addition, a reduction in pH from pH 7.0 to 6.0 has been shown to result in a doubling of the proportion of molecular H₂S (Xue et al., 1998). Use of a dietary acidulant in the current study contributed to increased S emissions, suggesting that alternative acidulants should be considered to avoid exacerbating sulfurous emissions.

CH₄ Emissions
Across ages, feeding the RE diet reduced daily CH₄ emission (mg/hen) by 17% (Table 5). Daily emissions from hens fed the RE diet (66.4 mg/hen) were less than emissions from hens fed the CM diet (80.2 mg/hen). Across ages, the RE diet decreased the daily emission rate of CH₄ emitted (3.8 and 4.6 mg/min for RE and CM diets, respectively; Table 5). The RE diet also reduced the cumulative CH₄ emission mass (5,272 vs. 6,394 mg/d for RE and CM diets, respectively; Table 5). Daily emission adjusted for total live weight of hens housed in each chamber from hens fed the RE diet (47.1 mg/kg of BW) was less than daily emission from hens fed the CM diet (57.1 mg/kg of BW). Twenty-one-week-old hens produced greater emissions of CH₄ than did 38- and 59-wk-old hens when CH₄ emissions are expressed on a per bird and per kilogram of BW basis. Although the reason for this is not evident, it does follow the same pattern as NH₃ emissions, except that in the case of CH₄, concentration is greater for the 21-wk old hens compared with both the 38- and 59-wk-old hens. No data are available to support differences in cecal fermentation patterns among hens of different ages, but differences, if they did exist, could explain the effect on CH₄ production.

CO₂ Emissions
Daily CO₂ emissions from hens fed the RE diet (74,548 mg/hen) were less than from hens fed the CM diet (78,432 mg/hen; Table 6), as was daily emission adjusted for total live weight in the chamber (53,013 mg/kg of BW and 55,900 mg/kg of BW for hens fed the RE diet and the CM diet, respectively; Table 6).

NO and NMTHC
Daily NO emissions from hens fed the RE diet (0.2 mg/hen) were less than NO emissions from hens fed the CM diet (0.4 mg/hen; Table 7). No age effects were observed (Table 7). No diet or age effects on emissions of NO₂ (Table 8) and NMTHC (Table 9) were observed in the current study. No data for these emissions were found in the literature for comparative purposes.

	ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 
This material is based upon work supported by the National Research Initiative Air Quality Program of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, USDA, under agreement no. 2005-35112-15356 and funding received by the Iowa Egg Council (Urbandale). We would also like to thank Sarah Zamzow and Martha Jeffrey for their laboratory assistance during the course of this project.

Received for publication June 19, 2006. Accepted for publication August 22, 2006.

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