Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Litter Additive in the Control of the Ammonia Level in Broiler Houses: Preliminary Results

Study by the Università di Perugia on two poultry houses (tunnel with forced ventilation): reduction of ammonia (NH₃) levels associated with SOP bio-sanitizer–treated litter by −62% during the chick phase and −71% during the adult phase compared to control.

Summary: Field study on two tunnel-ventilated poultry houses, comparing treated vs. control conditions. In the house with litter treated with SOP bio-sanitizer, ammonia reductions of −62% in the chick phase and −71% in the adult phase were observed compared to control, as reported in the contribution.

Ammonia (NH₃) control in poultry houses is a central operational tool for air quality and environmental management. Litter represents a primary source of ammonia during the production cycle, and the effectiveness of management strategies may vary between different phases of the cycle (early vs. advanced), making phase-specific measurements particularly informative.

In this context, the contribution presented at the 42nd SIPA Meeting — a peer-reviewed conference with selection by the scientific committee — describes a study conducted by the University of Perugia (coordinated by Prof.ssa Tacconi) on two tunnel-ventilated poultry houses, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an SOP bio-sanitizer additive applied to litter for controlling ammonia levels.

The study compared ammonia levels in treated litter versus control, distinguishing two production phases. The contribution reports the following results:

• Chick phase: −62% ammonia (treated vs. control)

• Adult phase: −71% ammonia (treated vs. control)

Overall, the results indicate a measurable effect on ammonia control associated with litter, with marked reductions in both phases and a particularly strong impact during the adult phase.