David Kradel Herbert Jordan Milton Madison John Schwartz Penn State Poultry Pointers (ill Weaver air quality and poultry PERFORMANCE William D. Weaver, Jr. Department of Poultry Science Poor air quality in the poultry house, especially during colder months, is normally associated with elevated levels of ammonia. Researchers have well docu mented the fact that ammonia levels above 25 parts per million (ppm) significantly increase feed to-gain ratios and reduce body weights. Research under con trolled conditions has also shown that body weight can be reduced .25 pound and feed conversion increased 4 percent (8 points) at market age for broilers when ammonia levels are maintained at SO vs. 0 ppm. This can amount to approximately 250 pounds of live weight and 320 pounds of feed, or as much as $75 for each 1,000 broilers produced. It has been our experience that producers tend to underventilate dunng the colder months in an attempt to conserve fuel. However, records from many individuals show that those who ventilate more and consequently bum more fuel make more money per bird than growers that overconserve on fuel and underventilate their buildings. Furthermore, investigators have HghMeld RM: 118-122 ■MI O/At / As a full season hybrid, this variety is a “must plant”. An outstanding yielder, it also has superior standability and is excellent for full season grain or silage. N 8727 features a flex ear that adapts well to variable densities, plus very good ear retention and husk cover. Out standing test weight, too. If you’re going all out for full season yields, this hybrid belongs on the top of your list. Not tolerant to virus complex. This hybrid had highest yield in a 90-91 P.S.U. trails at 191 bu/acre. RM: 108 ’ 112 - i i If you’re looking for a very high yielding hybrid that performs well as medium-to-low populations, put this one on the lop of your list. This com has a superior performance records on coarse to medium textured soils and exceptional drought stress tolerance, it has a flex ear that adapts well to lower populations. Recommended for timely harvest. Because You’re In Business To Grow Northrup King BROOKLAND GORDON SCOTT V SHIPMAN WAYNE FEED MILLS, INC. ISENBERG Tubotvilie, pa 17772 SUPPLY McVeytown, PA 17051 Alexandria PA 16411 (717)649-6133 Chambersbcrg, PA 17201 (717) 699-6772 (8140 669-9323 (717) 263-4121 D '» SUPpff 0 RICHARD H. Grantvllle. PA 17028-9650 KAUFFMAN (717) 868-0910 Columbia, PA 17512 (717) 684-2683 HAKES FARM ft SEED SERVICE Red Lion. PA 17356 (717) 244-2784 HORACE HEINDEL ft SON Vork, PA 17402 (717) 244-3710 Donald Singletary Andrew Yersin shown that birds vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus and exposed to either 20 or 50 ppm of ammonia have significantly higher infection rates than birds vacci nated and placed in an ammonia free environment Ammonia at levels of 40 ppm. and in some cases as low as 10 ppm. have been shown to significantly alter and damage the tracheal mucous mem branes. Birds exposed to these levels of ammonia had a greater number of e. coli organisms in their lungs than those not exposed to this gas. Other research shows that air sac condemnations are over 4 per cent higher when ammonia is maintained at SO ppm when com pared with an environment void of this gas. Certainly ammonia has been demonstrated to be a signific ant stressor, especially in combi nation with other respiratory chal lenges, and must be maintained at levels below 25 ppm during brood ing and below 50 ppm after 28 days of age in order to ensure desired performance. While conducting an ammonia level survey in a number of broiler houses several years ago, we recorded levels in some cases well above 100 ppm. When discussing this problem with colleagues in other areas of the country, they reported making readings of well over 200 ppm. Ammonia levels in this range will cause significant growth depression and respiratory compli- STEPHEN J. SNYDER Ellzcbethvllle, PA 17023 (717) 362-8736 LARRY ft GARY MENSIN6ER Nescopeck. PA (717) 379-3264 WARRIORS MARK CAROVAIL INC GENE MILLER FEED CENTER Gettysburg. PA ‘ LARRY BOWER Catowlna, PA 17820 Warriors Mark. PA 14877 173254)249 Unden, PA 17744 (717) 799-8760 (814) 632-8490 (717) 334-2104 (717) 323-3646 \ SOMERSET MILLING CO. RALPH MILLER Somerset. PA 15501 Womeildorf, PA 19567 (814) 446-7804 (218) 889-2642 cations. When litter pH is above 7.0, only heat, moisture, and nitro gen supplied by uric acid are needed to produce ammonia in the broiler house (i.e., water + uric acid + heat = ammonia). Unfortunately, under current management practices, heat (recommended brooding and growing temperatures) and uric acid (bird excreta) cannot be sig nificantly changed or reduced. Therefore, moisture must be con trolled to reduce the production of ammonia. This must be done through proper waterer manage ment (nipple drinkers have signif icantly aided this process) and with mechanical ventilation. My next article will discuss the proper operation of the negative pressure ventilation system to con trol moisture and consequently ammonia during the winter months. September has always been considered by me to be the busiest month of the year because there is so much to harvest. But this year it will be October that is busiest as we plan to move later in the month. I’ve already put some 50 flower plants from die garden into pots. They are stored on the back porch for the time being and I’m hoping our six black cats and kittens don’t break them. They can gingerly walk around them without touch ing them. However, the three kit tens are quiet playful and certainly can damage fragile plants. Lately I’ve been hauling baskets of tomatoes to my Amish neighbors. As I grew the plants from seed, they are just now bear ing abundantly and I’ve already canned all that I need. You see, there was a large carry over from the previous year and I do not need any more. We expect to have a big sweet potato crop if the few plants that I robbed are any indication. With my fingers I probe around the roots and I’ve been finding very JOHN C SNOOK Mlfflinburg. PA 17844-9652 (717) 966-0967 WAYNE ELWOOD HARER FEED SUPPLY Mo^^ 77Sa D ‘ 7,7)4 “- M29 large sweet potatoes. Despite the dry weather the vines have com pletely covered 18 feet of the gar den. The watermelon and white potatoes are now difficult to find. To add to the busy season, my husband decided that “now” was when he wanted his cataract oper ation. Our youngest daughter took off from her job and came home. He spent eight hours in the hospi tal and when the patch was HARRISGURG (Dauphin Co.) Congress must make unfin ished agricultural issues a priority during the closing days of the 1991 session, according to more than ISO family farmers from throughout the country who were in Washington September 21-24. Members of Pennsylvania Far mers Union (PFU) and officers participated in the legislative effort sponsored by the National Fanners Union. Improving federal dairy poli cies topped the list of concerns expressed by the delegation. Con gress is now considering legisla tion which would implement a program to boost the prices paid to dairy farmers by keeping supplies in line with demand. Farmers Union members sup port a supply management approach known as “two-tier” under which farmers could receive a fair price for their base level pro duction and a reduced price for any excess production. But the group told Congressional leaders that the policy must enable far mers to be able to receive cost of production plus a reasonable profit. The farmers also blasted the Bush Administration for driving a wedge between dairy farmers, producers of other commodities, and consumers. BEDFORD FARM BUREAU Bedford. PA 15522 (814) 623-6194 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 12, 1991-Cll PFU To Washington To get the most from your com dollar, you can’t beat Northrup King hybrids. They con sistently come on strong and deliver top yields, even under tough growing con ditions. And Northrup King has a selection of practices. So this year, go with seed com you can really put stock in. Northrup King hybrids. BRUCE B. GAMBLE & SONS Concord PA 17217 (717) 349*2670 JOHN D. CASSEL PAUO36 WIN FIR FARM LYN-LEE FARMS (717) 646-9022 Centre Hall. PA 16828 State College PA 16801 (614) 364*9270 (614) 236*1233 KNISELY'S AG CENTER, INC. Caritole, PA 17013 (717) 243-2233 removed from his eye the next day, he was amazed to find that he could see fine without glasses. But, as he has been blind in one eye since birth, it was a long 24 hours for him. Being fed and led around is no fun. I’m sure that in time he would have adjusted and become more independent. It certainly is a miracle when we consider what modem surgery can accomplish! ‘The Administration has stated that a supply-management dairy program would drive up retail prices, impact federal nutrition programs, and harm beef produc ers. These arguments are simply untrue,” said Allen Deiter, presi dent of the PFU. Second on the lobbying agenda was a call for disaster assistance for producers whose crops were lost to weather disasters this year. Pennsylvania has been severely affected by the drought, and some crops were a total loss. The group said a well-funded disaster pro gram and commitment by Con gress to improve the Federal Crop Insurance Program are critical to the areas suffering crop losses. Other issues discussed and sup ported by Farmers Union mem bers included International Trade (North American Free Trade Agreement and GATT negotia tions), wetland regulations, mark eung and processing sectors of agriculture, and adequate funding levels for the Green Thumb older workers’ program. “I really want to commend the people who took the time to come to Washington this week,” said National Farmers Union President Leland Swenson. “When mem bers of Congress consider farm policies, there are no better people for them to hear from than real, working farmers.” ts. LEON OBERHOLIZER East Eari, PA 17519 (717) 354-0832 RHOADS THE AGRONOMY MILLS INC. CENTER Setlngsgrove PA 17870 Thompsontown PA 17094 (717) 374-8141 (717) 838-5151 KENNETH E ZURIN CYRIL SHAFFER Mt Joy. PA 17552 Dalmatia PA 17017 (717) 898-8734 (717) 758-4346 J RICHARD BOMBERGER Lebanon PA 17042 (717) 949-3442
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers