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Al+Clear® in Action 1
How growers improve operations with Al+Clear Poultry Grade Alum
"Modest amounts of Al+Clear®alum give us the ammonia control we need when our chicks are most vulnerable." (Stephen and Maureen Corazza RASP Farm, Townsend, Del.) At some time in the week before they place 112,000 day-old chicks in their four poultry houses, Stephen and Maureen Corazza, owners of RASP Farm in Townsend, Del., ensure the chicks are safe from ammonia. "We simply broadcast Al+Clear® alum in the brood chamber," says Stephen Corazza. "Its action, coupled with normal ventilation to control temperature and humidity, keeps ammonia so low that we cannot smell it for four weeks or more. Modest amounts of Al+Clear alum give us the ammonia control we need when our chicks are most vulnerable." The Corazzas have used Al+Clear alum since 1997 to protect his birds from eye, respiratory and other problems caused by ammonia. The alum acidifies litter and resists a rise in pH as manure builds. (Higher pH promotes ammonia formation.) Independent studies show alum consistently outperforms other litter treatments in limiting ammonia. For instance, a two-year USDA/University of Arkansas study compared six treatments and found that alum was the most cost-effective way to lower ammonia. Low application rate:
RASP Farm is in a large bird program. The Corazzas get chicks on the day they hatch and harvest half of them at six weeks and the remainder at 10 weeks. They change out the litter in each 20,000-sq.-ft. house every 24 months, so litter treatment for ammonia is essential for flock health. In using Al+Clear alum, they first decake the litter and then apply it at a rate of 50 lb./1000 sq. ft. with a broadcast spreader from the back of an ATV or with a drop spreader. "We began at 75 lb./sq. ft., but soon learned that we could cut this by a third and still get excellent ammonia control," says Stephen Corazza. Depending on market demand, the time between flocks can be as short as 6 days. "Al+Clear alum allows us to manage our time better, especially on short turnarounds, because we can use it well before we set up a house," he says. "With water lines, feeding stations and curtains out of the way, we can move about freely and don't have to shift anything for a total laydown. One person can usually treat a brood chamber in less than 20 minutes. "By contrast, we had to apply PLT, the litter treatment we used before, 12 to 24 hours before chicks went into the house. This meant working during the preheat stage at 85° to 90°F and with all the equipment down. The application not only took about three time longer than it does now, it also added a complex task in the hectic day before chick placement." Clearing up confusion about alum:
"Some growers are confused about alum," he says. "They believe it requires such a high dose that it is not cost effective. I think this came from early research on binding soluble phosphorus in litter to halt nutrient runoff from fields. Alum works well to bind phosphorus, but the rates evaluated were 100 lb./1000 sq. ft. or more. "We found we can knock ammonia back to safe levels for our young birds at less than half this amount, so the cost of treatment becomes very attractive. Another benefit is that the alum cuts our energy costs, because less ammonia translates into less ventilation. We estimate that we save at least 20% on fuel during winter and use less electricity to run the fan for our ventilation tunnel." The environmental side of alum's use is also of interest to Stephen Corazza. As one of 15 commissioners on the Delaware Nutrient. Management Commission, he is well aware of the growing concern over phosphorus runoff. Among other things, the commission is concerned with phosphorus control and how to prevent its migration from fields. "At this time, controlling phosphorus is voluntary and depends on a person's desire to be a good steward of the soil," he says. "But we may see restrictions on phosphorus in the future. If this occurs, the use of alum is likely to be one of a set of solutions growers can access to limit soluble phosphorus in litter." To contact the Corazzas on their use of Al+Clear alum or on Stephen Corazza's work on the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission, call (302) 653-3583. Benefits from Al+Clear alum at RASP Farm:
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