The management of air and water emissions, phosphorous run-off, and waste management pose additional burdens on both small and large poultry producers alike.

Ammonia in poultry houses is a significant issue in particular, and levels are often dangerously high. This ammonia is not directly produced by the birds, but rather from the break-down of nitrogen in the form of excreted uric acid. Warm temperatures, moisture, pH in the neutral range or slightly higher (7.0 – 8.5), and the presence of organic matter favors bacterial growth and the production of ammoniacal nitrogen, all conditions which are normally present in poultry waste handling systems.

Reduced Ammonia Levels

It has been reported that a dietary approach that utilizes lower protein, dietary acidifiers, and zeolite absorbent compounds can reduce ammonia volatilization from layer flocks as much as 80%.

The application of a small amount of St. Cloud Zeolite mixed into the birds’ feed, bedding, or applied topically to the manure, significantly reduces ammonia levels.

Feed Supplement Benefits

The inclusion of St. Cloud Zeolite in the birds’ diet is the most efficient and effective delivery method for an overall poultry management system. In addition to the immediate result of a significant reduction of odor and ammonia gas, St. Cloud Zeolite may:

Birds fed a St. Cloud Zeolite amended feed supplement require less feed and water to gain as much weight as birds receiving conventional feed. In studies using St. Cloud Zeolite amended feed, increased feed efficiency values (FEV) to more than 5% above normal rations were observed. Birds fed St. Cloud Zeolite amended feed also produced droppings with 25% less moisture due to the moisture absorption and retention properties of the internal lattice structure of the zeolite.

Increased Manure Application Rates

The intensification of farm operations also brings challenges in managing manures and the ever increasing environmental requirements designed for the protection of natural resources. Often, transport distances and crop land availability impose serious constraints on the disposal of manures high in phosphorous and low in nitrogen.

St. Cloud Zeolite’s unique ability to capture and bind ammonium nitrogen results in more nutrients being retained in the manure. This higher quality and more balanced end product allows increased application rates, which minimizes waste disposal costs and reduces reliance on purchased ammonia fertilizer.