Effect of calcium peroxide (CaO2) addition to poultry litter on the parameters of its physicochemical, microbiological and fertilising quality

The quality of litter is an important environmental factor in poultry houses. Its proper physicochemical properties have a positive impact on poultry house microclimate and indirectly on poultry farm surroundings as well. Commercial preparations available on the market which disinfect and reduce losses of mineral compounds (primarily nitrogen) in litter are relatively expensive, and thus they are not widely used. Therefore, it is necessary to look for a cheaper option, such as CaO2 addition seems to be. The research was carried out in farm conditions in two poultry houses, in each of which approximately 21 000 Ross 308 broiler chickens were reared. In order to maintain good physicochemical parameters of litter throughout the broiler chicken rearing time, the researchers applied (before bringing in the birds) a single CaO2 addition in the amount of 2 g per 1 m2 of poultry house floor area. During the 6-week chicken rearing period, the following parameters were monitored: temperature, relative humidity and pH value of the litter top layer. The total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and the total count of yeasts and moulds were estimated in the litter. Moreover, the content of mineral compounds (N, P, K, Mg, Ca) in fresh litter mass was checked in the 1st, 3rd and 6th week. The results prove that calcium peroxide application has no negative impact on the examined physicochemical parameters of litter (especially on temperature). The addition of calcium peroxide to poultry litter also influenced the stabilization of litter microflora. The content of examined mineral compounds in experimental poultry house litter, which was increasing with chicken rearing time, as shown in the experiment, proved the improving fertilising value of the produced manure. Moreover, due to the slow CaO2 decomposition, it is sufficient to apply it only once during a 6-week broiler chicken production cycle.