Authors : Wei Feng-Xian, Xu Bin, Hu Xiao-Fei, Li Shao-Yu, Liu Fu-Zhu, Sun Quan-You, Jiao Yu-Ping and Wang Lin-Yi
Abstract: A single study has been conducted to determine the effects of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) and humidity on the small intestinal morphology and function of broiler chickens. A total of 288, 21 days old broilers were exposed to either 30 parts per million (ppm) (CTRL) or 70 ppm of atmospheric NH3 (EXP) for a total of 21 days. In each group one third were kept at 35% Relative Humidity (RH) (L), one third at 60% RH (M) and one third at 85% RH (H) for 21 days. The average initial Body Weight (BW), average final BW, ADFI, ADG and the ratio of feed intake to weight gain (F:G) were recorded >21 days for the 6 treatment groups of 48 broilers, namely CTRL + L, CTRL + M, CTRL + H, EXP + L, CTRL + M, CTRL + H. At the end of the experiment, the Villus Height (VH) and Crypt Depth (CD) of duodenum and jejunum and ileum as well as the absorptive function (xylose uptake) were determined. The Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration in the small intestine was also measured as a parameter of intestinal immunological function. The results showed that exposure to 70 ppm of ammonia significantly decreased all of the measured parameters except F:G which was increased significantly (p<0.05). Exposure to 85% RH resulted in significantly decreased average final BW, ADFI, ADG, VH and CD of duodenum, jejunum and ileum, D-xylose level in plasma, SIgA concentration in duodenal mucosa and increased the F:G of broiler chickens compared with 60% RH exposure, respectively (p<0.05). The chickens exposure to 30% RH had lower ADG, ileal VH, duodenal and ileal CD, D-xylose concentration and higher F:G than those to 60% RH, respectively (p<0.05). But there was no significant interactive effect between ammonia and humidity (p>0.05). In conclusion, high level of ammonia in poultry house depressed the development of small intestinal morphology and subsequently the absorptive and defensive function of the small bowel, resulting in poorer growth performance of broiler chickens. Neither a high nor low level of relative humidity in the poultry house benefited the growth performance and intestinal development of broiler chickens.
Wei Feng-Xian, Xu Bin, Hu Xiao-Fei, Li Shao-Yu, Liu Fu-Zhu, Sun Quan-You, Jiao Yu-Ping and Wang Lin-Yi, 2012. The Effect of Ammonia and Humidity in Poultry Houses on Intestinal Morphology and Function of Broilers. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 3641-3646.