Preceded by potassium, nitrogen is one of the components found in the highest proportion on a farm.
As a result of the microbial decomposition of animal excretions, ammonia and derived compounds (NH3) are released.
But… why is this gas released?
A fundamental process of the nitrogen cycle is set in motion: ammonification. This process consists of an oxidation of organic nitrogen (found in proteins, amino acids or other components that are present in urine or animal excrement) to ammoniacal Nitrogen; ammonia.
This oxidation process is produced by the action of microorganisms (mostly bacteria and fungi), when they are carrying out their life cycles.
There are several points that are fundamental to avoid this ammonification process. One of them is the adequacy of the pH of the medium. It is essential to have a pH that does not favor this process, and therefore a pH level of 7.5 should never be exceeded. Due to this reason, the use of calcium hydroxide (lime) in animal bedding, with a pH greater than 12, generates an environment in which the production of ammonia becomes a problem.
In addition, it is also necessary that the locations where the animals live (beds, stables, cubicles…) have adequate humidity levels that do not allow microbial proliferation.
But… Why is it important to remove ammonia from stables?
- Ammonia is an irritant gas on the gastro-respiratory, ocular and dermal tract.
- It affects the intestinal villi, which affect the absorption of nutrients.
- In pigs it can cause tail-biting lesions (behavior by which a pig bites the tail of another pig)
- Pododermatitis.
- Other types of problems related to its irritating property.
In conclusion, contact with ammonia is not beneficial for any type of animal, not even for humans. That is why the elimination of residues in the bed and its continuous replacement is a factor of great importance to avoid this process of ammonia generation.
To sum up, the use of a dryer such as Sanisec, Secasec or Phytogrape dryer is a fundamental factor in controlling ammonia concentration, through pH, and keeping the bed dry.
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