Effect of Dust and Ammonia Air Contamination on Turkey Response

Turkeys were subjected to two levels of dust and ammonia air contamination in accordance with a 2 x 2 factorial design. Three trials, each of 12 weeks duration, were completed under controlled conditions similar to those found in commercial poultry housing. The incidence of airsacculitis at slaughter was found to be significantly affected by the dust air pollution. Increasing the dust contamination from the low level considered in this study to the high level caused more than double the rate of airsacculitis. No effect of ammonia on airsacculitis was detected. Also, interaction between dust and ammonia was not significant. Mortality rates and feed conversion of the turkeys were not affected by the dust and ammonia treatments. Birds exposed to the high dust and ammonia concentrations showed considerable loss of cilia from the epithelium lining the trachea.