International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications

ISSN: 2456-9992

An Assessment Of The Nutrient Profile

Accumulated Laying Hens Manure And Ammonia
Emissions Reduction Strategies For Quality Of Egg
Production, Resident Safety And Environment In
The Rivers West Senatorial District, Nigeria.
Ndukwu E.C., Ezenwanne N.H.
Animal House Research Unit,
University of Port Harcourt, Animal House Research Unit, Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, P.M.B 5323 Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria.
edwin.ndukwu@uniport.edu.ng

Madonna University, Department of Medical Biochemistry,

P.M.B. 05 Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.
helannus4@yahoo.com

Abstract: Unused nitrogen in the manure in the form of uric acid has contributed immensely to ammonia emissions. However, diet
manipulation and management (an ideal dietary crude protein) as well as litter treatment with acidifiers and manure removal have been
recognized as a means to reduce ammonia emissions from poultry operations. This study was an assessment of the nutrient profile
accumulated laying hens waste and ammonia emissions reduction strategies for quality of egg production, resident safety and environment
in Rivers West Senatorial District, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to 21 egg producers to obtain relevant information.
The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result indicated that egg producers had high understanding of
choke/offensive odour (57.14%) and air-borne infections (28.5%) respectively. The study also revealed that farmers are aware of the
adverse effects of the ammonia emission but lack the ability to easily adopt new innovations and possible ways to reduce ammonia
emissions. Training on emission reduction strategies will be a great assistance to farmers. Most egg producers were between the ages of 30
and 50 (57.14%) and had more involvement in egg production and operated small-scale farm.

Keyword: Accumulated manure, ammonia emission reduction, egg production and environment.

Introduction dietary protein which in turn decrease fecal N while

Over the years in most developing countries including
Nigeria, egg producers are usually more concerned with
the health and productivity of their flock than the impact of
the environmental hazards (ammonia emissions) the egg
production process had caused on them, their employee,
egg quality and the environment. It is obvious that the
inability of the farmers to regulate the level of protein as
well as amino acid in the diet is a threat to quality of egg
production, resident safety and healthy environment [1].
Ammonia emission is one of the major air quality concerns
in the global, national and regional level reported by [2],
but does not have any effect on global warming. It has
been reported by [3], [4] that ammonia significantly
compromises poultry welfare, and in addition to that, it
impacts hazardous effects on the health of caretakers and
to the environmental ecology. Nitrogen in the form of
ammonia is of particular importance because of its
potential to create odour and negatively impact air and
water quality, animal and human health. However,
manipulation of diet formulation and diet management as
reported by [1],[5] have been recognized as a means to
reduce ammonia emissions from poultry operations. Since
chickens can only utilize about 40% of the dietary protein,
it seems logical to decrease the level of protein in the diet
and the only way to do so, is that the synthetic amino acids
must be used to meet the requirement of the limiting amino
acid as dilution of amino acids reduces the dietary protein
[6]. An ideal protein concept is the only way to reduce
maintaining egg production parameters as well as
environmental sustainability. Ideal protein concept has
been used in turkeys by [7], broilers by [8],[9] to
determine the optimal level and the proper ratio of each
limiting amino acid on retention basis to reduce
interactions between amino acids and exclusive feeding of
amino acids. There has been a limited research in laying
hens in this regard. But an optimal protein diet was
reported by [10] for Dekalb Delta Layer at 52 weeks of age
supplied a total sulfur amino acid lysine ratio of around
0.85, which was similar to that reported by [11] in Dekalb
Delta hens from 40 to 60 weeks of age. So many
researchers have succeeded in reducing N excretion by
decreasing Cp content in the diet with or without
supplemental amino acids [12],[13]. About three to five
percentage unit reduction in dietary crude protein reported
by [14], [15], [16] has resulted in up to 60% reduction in
the total nitrogen excretion from broilers and laying hens
with concomitant reductions in ammonia emission
[17],[18]. Although, the typical reduction in the crude
protein content is around one percent unit. But in laying
hen diets, ammonia emission can be reduced by 8-10%
[18], [19]. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the
level of awareness by egg producers on ammonia
emissions and the possible ways to reduce ammonia
volatilization from poultry manure to minimize the
harmful effects of ammonia on animal, human health and
the environment.

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 International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications
ISSN: 2456-9992

Dietary approach
Methodology (i) By feeding an ideal
10 47.61
This study was carried out in the Rivers West senatorial crude protein diets
(ii) By diet manipulation
district, Rivers State, Nigeria. Located within longitude
(formulation) and diet 8 38.09
6o50E-7o50E and latitude 5o05N – 5o06N in the low land management
area of the Niger Delta with dense and thick tropical (iii) By dilution of
rainforest vegetation. It is characterized with high amino-acid (using less
atmospheric (ambient) temperature of 27oC and high crude protein diet) to 3 14.28
relative humidity with an average annual rainfall ranging meet the laying hens
from 2500mm to 3000mm. The study commenced with a amino acid requirement
structured questionnaire designed to obtain relevant Mechanical and
information from 21 egg producers that were randomly manure management
selected from 7 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the approach
(i) Increase ventilation
Rivers West Senatorial District with 3 laying hens houses 6 28.57
rate
in each LGA. The data collected were analyzed using (ii) Planting of tree
descriptive statistics. 3 14.28
buffers
(iii) Treatment, moving
Table 1: Demographic Characteristics of the egg 12 57.14
or removing the manure
producers Source: Field Survey, 2017

Characteristics Frequency Percentages (%) Result and Discussion

Sex distribution - -
According to the result of this study (Table 1) showed that
Male 14 66.66
Female 7 33.33
more males (66.66%) were involved in egg production.
Age This was in agreement with the report of [20]. Most
<30 3 14.28 respondents were within the ages of 31-50 which tallied
31-50 12 57.14 with the report of [21]. The number of farmers who
>50 6 28.57 attained secondary education was higher (47.61%), and
Level of Education within this number and the number who attained tertiary
Primary 4 19.04 education were those with more experience in the business.
Secondary 7 33.33 This was supported by the report of [4]. It is also implied
Tertiary 10 47.61 that farmers are aware of the adverse effect of ammonia
Years of Experience emission but lack the ability to easily adopt innovations
<5 3 14.28 and apply possible reduction strategies. Training on
6-10 8 38.09 emission reduction strategies will be of great assistance to
>10 10 47.66 farmers. Most respondents operated small-scale farm.
Farm Size However, the response of the egg producers about the
Small scale 10 47.61 adverse effects of ammonia emission on egg production,
Medium scale 7 33.33
resident safely and the environment (Table 2) indicated
Large scale 4 19.04
that the respondents had more understanding of
Source: Field survey, 2017
choke/offensive odour (57.14) and air-borne infections
(28.59) respectively. This was similar to the report of [22],
Table 2: Responses of egg producers on the awareness of
[23] that cage-layer waste (CLW) have a particular odour,
ammonia emission on egg production, resident safety and
and potential source of harmful agents including
the environment
pathogenic bacteria (salmonella), moulds and yeasts.
Again, (Table 3) showed the possible ways of reducing
Items Frequency Percentages (%)
ammonia emission in laying hens house. Most respondents
Environmental
hazards/N pollution indicated that the major possible ways to reduce emission
Choke/offensive 12 57.14 includes dietary approach such as the use of an ideal crude
odour protein diet, diet manipulation and management, dilution
Air-borne infections 6 28.57 of amino acids etc, and secondly, is by mechanical and
Respiratory irritations 3 14.28 manure management approach which includes increasing
Biological hazards ventilation rate, planting of tree buffers, treatment and
Zoonotic infections 4 19.04 manure removal. This confirmed the early reports of
Psychosocial factors 10 47.61 [1],[5] that an ideal protein diet and diet management are
(back pain) the major ways to reduce fecal N as well as ammonia
Eye irritation 7 33.33 emissions from laying hens’ house while maintaining egg
Source: Field Survey, 2017 production parameters, workers health and environmental
sustainability.

Conclusion
Table 3: Possible strategies to reduce ammonia emission
This study revealed that most egg producers showed high
in laying-hens houses
level of awareness about the adverse effects of ammonia
emissions in their laying hen houses but lack the ability to
Items Frequency Percentages (%)
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 International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications
ISSN: 2456-9992
practically apply the emission reduction strategies in their
farms to reduce effects of these emissions on egg quality,
resident safety and the environment. Ammonia emission in
the laying hen house can be controlled by reducing litter
moisture, dietary manipulation and management such as
use of low crude protein diet, high fibrous diet and dietary
additives and use of litter treatment with acidifiers such as
alum, sodium bisulfate, calcium sulfate etc, and manure
removal. Most farmers had both secondary and tertiary
education and can easily adopt new innovations and apply
possible strategies to reduce ammonia emission if they are
willing to receive training.
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