The effect of keeping turkeys of the parent herd on the regenerated laying on the microclimate of the poultry house, the well-being, and productivity of birds

Abstract

Goal. To study the effect of keeping turkeys of the parent herd on regenerated laying on the microclimate of the poultry house, well-being and zootechnical indicators of birds. Methods. Zootechnical (study of zootechnical parameters of poultry), zoo-hygienic (study of microclimate parameters in the poultry house), and statistical (statistical data processing). Results. Comparative studies of the microclimate in the poultry house and the zootechnical indicators of turkeys of the parent herd for their maintenance on fresh and regenerated laying were conducted. Laying regeneration was carried out according to the experimental technology developed at the State Poultry Research Station of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences (SPRS of NAAS), which involved its pasteurization by the method of biothermal composting, the addition of special microbiological preparation and treatment of the surface of the laying with ultraviolet radiation. They studied the change in the humidity of the laying, the content of ammonia and carbon dioxide in the air of the poultry houses, and indicators of the well-being and productivity of birds. It was established that during almost the entire period of keeping turkeys (101 days out of 126), the moisture content of the regenerated laying was lower than that of the fresh one. The laying was characterized by better flowability and less clumping. At the same time, the ammonia content was higher by 0.6–2.0 mg/m3 (p<0.05) and the carbon dioxide content - by 0.004–0.014% (in absolute values) (p<0.05), which did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (MPC). The state of feathering and paws at the end of the experimental period and zootechnical indicators of turkeys in the case of keeping on fresh and regenerated laying did not have statistically significant differences. Conclusions. Keeping turkeys of the parent herd on the laying regenerated according to the experimental technology developed at the SPRS of NAAS did not lead to a deterioration in the welfare and productive indicators of the poultry; the content of ammonia and carbon dioxide in the air of the poultry house did not exceed the MPC.