Abstract
Modern broiler chicken production needs to consider limits on air pollutant emissions and rigorous welfare standards. Therefore, the investigation of mineral litter additives and/or sprinkles -combining diatomite with bentonite (DTBN) and/or dolomite (DTDL) - for their impact on litter properties and air quality is crucial. In an experiment conducted on broiler chickens, one-day-old Ross 308 chicks (6 coops x 80 birds/group) were assigned to four groups: C - no additives to litter, DTBN (75/25; wt/wt) - diatomite and bentonite mixture applied at 280 g/m² before facility settling (D0), DTDL - diatomite and dolomite applied on the 10th (D10) and 26th (D26) rearing day at 100 g/m², and DTBN+DTDL - both mixtures applied on the same dates. During the 42-day rearing period, the chicks were fed a complete ration of compound feed. The concentration of noxious gas admixtures in the air (NH3, H2S, CO2, CH4) as well as litter samples from under the animals were collected on D0, D10, and D35. Mineral mixtures increased dry matter content (p≤0.05) and decreased the concentration of ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4, p≤0.05) in the litter. Combined DTBN + DTDL reduced electrical conductivity (EC) but at the same time increased dehydrogenase (DhA) activity on D35. Minor, although statistically significant changes (p≤0.05) in CO2, NH3, CH4, H2S, and dust concentration in the chicken house air were observed. In conclusion, diatomite with bentonite and/or dolomite mineral mixtures could help reduce the emission of air pollutants such as ammonia and may be useful in maintaining high environmental quality in broiler houses.