26 26 Some options available LOHMANN › MANAGEMENT GUIDE › PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Production Management Litter Litter has many uses within the poultry house. Not only does it help promote natural behaviours such as dust bathing and foraging it is also beneficial in absorbing moisture and in open houses it helps to reduce the spread of external contaminants to the raised areas. However, with these benefits there can also be negatives when the litter is not managed correctly, such as increased dust levels, increased moisture levels and increased ammonia levels. It can also become a breeding ground for bacteria and mould. Therefore, it’s imperative to choose the correct substrate for your house and conditions and manage it accordingly. Wood shavings › Generally easy to source with good absorbency. › Soft woods should be used to prevent risk of splintering. › Too fine a shaving can result in caking when wet. Sand or gravel › Reduced risk of bacterial growth › Encourages dust bathing › Can encourage gorging › Hazardous to equipment Bark mulch & Wood chips › Readily available. › Larger particles can take longer to break down and absorb too much moisture becoming mouldy. › High risk of contaminated particles. Cellulose pellets Straw › Variety of options available: Wheat, Rye, Barley. Some are more absorbent than others. › Should be chopped to 2.5 cm. › Can provide enrichment when presented as bales within the unit. Regardless of the litter material used, it is essential that it should always be clean from contaminants! › Dust Free › Absorbent and free draining › Often contains a disinfectant element › Can be expensive
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