Belgium: Ammonia emissions are significantly higher in slow-growing broiler chickens

The pilot farm has compared emission figures from four rounds of broiler chickens. The animals were set up between September 2023 and March 2024. The ammonia emission from the fast-growing chicks was converted to an average of 417 grams per square meter per year. For the slow-growing chicks, the emission was an average of 961 grams. There was considerable variation in ammonia emissions per round. The first round, partly due to a Reo infection, was the worst in both test groups. The research was carried out in groups on 75 and 112.5 m2 of barn surface area. In all groups, unloading took place in between. For regularly kept chicks, the maximum occupancy was 42 kilos per square meter. The animals were delivered at an ...