Suitability of litter amendments for the Australian chicken meat industry
A normal process of feed digestion in chickens includes the excretion of ammonia in their faeces, which gets mixed into the litter on the floor …
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Litter
Chicken litter, or bedding, is an essential part of breeding and growing meat chickens. Litter in good condition—dry and friable—optimises chicken health and welfare, improving their growth and productivity.
Here you will find litter resources and tools for meat chicken growers and breeders including guides, videos and webinar recordings. There are also links to current research project summaries and completed project final reports.
Litter guides
There are three litter guides for meat chicken growers and breeders:
- Grower options for spent litter utilisation (PRJ-006440), published July 2015
- Energy recovery from litter: a guide for users (PRJ-006440), published July 2015
- Land application of chicken litter: a guide for users (PRJ-006440), published July 2015
A best practice manual for managing litter is being developed and is due for release at the end of 2020.
Litter pocket guide and shed poster
Chicken meat growers and breeders can order copies of the ‘Litter pocket guide’ and ‘Litter condition shed poster’ to help assess and manage their litter from Rachele Osmond.
Litter videos
Watch these short litter videos and animations to learn more about factors that affect litter—relative humidity; ammonia and litter management; shed maintenance; water movement in litter; drinker management; litter re-use, and; preheating sheds and litter.
Litter webinars
Watch this Litter webinar recording to learn about litter management, amendments and alternative litter options for meat chicken growers. Topics covered by Eugene McGahan, Integrity Ag & Environment, and Mark Dunlop, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, include: litter supply, risk assessment of alternative litter types, suitability of litter amendments and best practice litter management.
Research
Litter-related research projects currently under way are:
- Litter and environment: best management practices and data to support production and industry growth (PRJ-011502), completion date February 2023
- Development of national environmental guidelines for the meat chicken industry – project summary (PRJ-011090), completion date April 2021
- Risk assessment of alternative litter types – project summary (PRJ-011935), completion date February 2021
- Best practice manual for managing litter (PRJ-011589), completion date December 2020
For a list of completed projects visit our ‘Completed litter research projects’ page.
