Reducing ammonia emission by aluminum sulfate addition in litter and its influence on productive, reproductive, and physiological parameters of dual-purpose breeding hens

This research investigated the impact of aluminum sulfate (AS) as amendment to different types of litter (new, reused, and mixed litters) for reducing ammonia emission and improving productive performance of local dual-purpose breeding hens. A total of 450 hens and 60 cocks from the Inshas strain were randomly assigned to six groups (five replicates each of 15 hens + 2 cocks) raised in pen floor furnished with a wheat straw litter. The groups included: (1) new, (2) reused, (3) mixed (50% new + 50% reused) litter; the other groups (4, 5 and 6) were respectively housed on the same litter as groups 1, 2 and 3 but with the addition of 495 g of AS/m 2 litter. The feed conversion ratio was better for layers raised on new litter with or without AS than other groups. Different kinds of litter had different moisture ( p