Studies on reducing the feces excretion of copper and zinc in chicken

         The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with different levels of copper and zinc on the production performance and copper and zinc excretion of laying hens. A total of 288 Hy-Line W36 birds, during from 24 to 27 weeks age the hen-day production above 90% of birds. The results showed that the different copper levels of diet did not affect the egg weight, hen-day production, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The laying hens of intake Cu-10 diet had significantly thicker eggshell thickness, smaller egg mass and eggshell breaking strength than intake Cu-0 diet birds. Laying hens of intake Zn-90 diet had significantly higher fecal excretion than birds of intake Zn-30 diet. However, the Cu and Zn concentration in feces was increased along with Cu and Zn intake increased.

(T. M. Su, S. M. Liou,Y. H. Weng, T. H. Hsiao and H. F.Lee)

Removal of the ammonia and odor from composting process by using tickling filter 

        There were two trickling filters used in this study. Filter A was inoculated with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Filter B was pH controlled. The exhausted gases of broiler litter composting process were conducted to these two bio-trickling filters to reduce the NH3 and odor emission. According to the removal rates of NH3 and odor, a bio-trickling filter with GCT 15 s and a trickling filter with pH at 6 were suggested to be utilized on the removal of ammonia and odor produced during the composting process of broiler litter. (T. H. Hsiao)