In today's article you will be fully informed about the use of Sodium bicarbonate in animals i.e. what are the benefits of Sodium bicarbonate? How much Sodium bicarbonate should be given to animals? And which animals should not be given Sodium bicarbonate? Does giving Sodium bicarbonate increase animal milk?

Whatever food is given to animals, such as fodder or concentrate, during its digesting process, fermentation takes place in the stomach of the animal so that the food can be digested, resulting in acidity. Especially high protein fodder or dry fodder called dry matter and animals eating silage or concentrate should be given Sodium bicarbonate because when animals eat such food, their stomach develops a lot of acidity, which reduces pH level of the rumen below normal range, reducing the animal's intake of fodder and drinking water. The fat rate in milk begins to decrease and if no solution is found, the animal's milk also starts decreasing and the animal itself begins to weaken. Animal milk begins to smell. The animal's mouth also smells very unpleasant from its dung and urine. That is to say, the animal becomes a victim of a condition which is commonly called vai badi (local name is Pakistan).

Advantages of using Sodium bicarbonate

Normal animal rumen pH level range between 5.5 and 7 but due to too much acidity pH level begins to fall, so when Sodium bicarbonate is given to animals regularly, then pH level of their rumen becomes normal, keeping their stomach system healthy. Animals also start feeding on fodder and drink water well. Overall, they are in good health and of course it also has a very positive effect on their milk production and also increases the level of fat in milk.

How much Sodium bicarbonate should be given to the animals?

Now let's come to the question: What quantity of Sodium bicarbonate should be given to animals? If you want to give your animal’s Sodium bicarbonate on a daily basis, you can give 25 to 30 grams per day. If you want to give up to 50 grams then you have to give up one day. Sodium bicarbonate should be mixed in the concentrate. Add Sodium bicarbonate to the animal's concentrate whenever you are preparing it. When an animal is prone to excessive stomach acidity, its udder and teats also begin to be affected by it. Problems such as bleeding and lumps from the teats can also occur but all these problems can be avoided by giving a Sodium bicarbonate. If you are preparing concentrate at home for your animals, then 1 kg of Sodium bicarbonate is used in 100 kg concentrate at the rate of 1%, but it is better to mix for each animal in a separate concentrate every day as per its requirement so that better results are obtained.

Contraindication of using Sodium bicarbonate

The Sodium bicarbonate should not be given to the pregnant animal in the last days. In addition, if the animal has to give any medicine, do not give Sodium bicarbonate with medicine but can give it after some interval. In order to remove stomach acidity, provide a clean and fresh water for 24 hours a day so that they can drink water whenever they need to drink water, which also keeps acidity in the stomach under control.

 

The impact of microbial dietary supplements on animal performance and health has become increasingly significant in recent years. As a result, direct-fed microbials (DFM) have piqued the curiosity of various authors in recent decades. Probiotics are live bacteria that are non-pathogenic and non-toxic and can have a beneficial effect on the host animals when given at the right dose. DFM such as yeast and bacterial species are examples of ruminant-specific probiotics. Probiotics are still a new and unfamiliar technology in cows, but they are gaining acceptance as a result of current restrictions and customer demands. In the United States, about 20% of cows are fed some sort of probiotic. Alternative technologies are more likely to be accepted by larger herds. nutritionists gave some primary reasons for recommending probiotics:

Ø Higher milk production efficiency

Ø Improved carbohydrate and fiber digestion

Ø Improved herd health

Ø Be able to exist at low stomach pH and be resistant to bile acids, as well as being tolerated by the animal's immune system.

Ø Have a good effect on the animal's organism and should not be pathogenic, allergenic, or mutagenic/carcinogenic to the animal.

Ø Have the ability to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells, multiply, and colonize the gastrointestinal tract permanently or occasionally (or active in its presumed site).

Ø Have the ability to survive in the digestive tract under poor storage and living conditions.

 

MODE OF ACTION OF PROBIOTICS

Different probiotics have different modes of action, which are not fully known, likely because their actions were carried out in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) lumen or in the GIT wall. Despite the fact that probiotics are being promoted as a replacement for Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGP), the mechanisms of action of these feed additives appear to be different. Bacterial probiotics work in three different ways. The first is by preventing germs from binding to the gut wall by competitive attachment. The second mechanism of action is an antibacterial-like activity, which can aid in the reduction of microorganisms in the intestine. Modulation of immunological response, which improves the host's response to disease, is the final mode of action.

v Gastrointestinal and probiotics:

Probiotics (dry or live) used as natural feed additions that have been demonstrated to increase animal performance and welfare by modulating the gut microbial ecology, which is critical for maintaining host homeostasis. When supplied as a single or multi-strain feed supplement, probiotics have a positive influence on animal growth rate and production performance. When we consider the GIT, we learn that it is a complicated system that serves a variety of functions in the animal's life. It's where the feed is broken down and nutrients are absorbed. It is also where about 75% of the immune system resides. The intestine defense system is made up of epithelial connections between cells, a mucous layer, immunoglobulins, and antimicrobial peptides. Pathogens can harm the intestinal lining and cause inflammation if this barrier is breached.

v Effect on Milk production

Probiotics are used in livestock feed to improve the health of the animals as well as to assure food safety. Furthermore, yeast is supposed to promote rumen function, leading to increased nutrient bioavailability, which improves milk production while ensuring the animal's digestive comfort. The use of probiotics as ruminant feed supplements improves milk supply, milk quality, and functional components like protein and fat content. Probiotic dairy products have been found to be safe for large-scale consumption in studies. Dairy cows given probiotic species Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae enhanced milk output and milk proteins, according to a study.

v Probiotics and immune system

The effect of probiotics on the immune system is fascinating. Some probiotic strains can boost the innate immune response, allowing host cells to recognize infections faster. This helps to minimize tissue damage, as well as inflammation. Damaged tissue reduces the GIT's ability to absorb nutrients and raises the risk of further bacterial damage. Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and yeast have all been investigated for their ability to induce an immunological response. Lactobacillus casei raised the expression of the innate immune receptor TLR2 and activated immune cells of the innate immune response when given orally.

 

PROBIOTICS AND CATTLE

Probiotics are commonly employed in the cattle industry for both dairy and beef cows at all phases of development and growth. DFM or probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, have been shown to benefit dairy cows, beef cattle, neonatal calves, and periparturient cows growth, production performance (milk production, milk functional components, and milk composition), and immune response. Additionally, probiotic treatment has been shown to reduce ruminal acidity in feedlot cattle and dairy cows, as well as increase immunological response in stressed calves. Probiotics boosted food intake, improved feed efficiency, and raised average daily growth in dairy cows. Increased enzyme activity in the GIT of cattle fed a high-protein diet. The presence of probiotics could be related to the probiotics ability to produce enzymes, a natural or artificial shift in the microbial population, resulting in an increase in enzyme synthesis, Another reason could be that probiotics increase the height of intestinal villi and villus, increasing the surface area available for nutrient absorption. In a research, when administering a mix of lactobacillus and propionibacterium, we normally find a 2 to 3 percent increase in milk production efficiency. Different researches detect an improvement in starch and fibre digestibility in field and university investigations. In a few field studies with larger dairies, probiotic feeding resulted in a significant increase in health, with a reduction of over 40% in unfavorable health occurrences. If we can maintain a cow healthy, it will use less feed, produce more milk, and improve milk check.

CONCLUSION

Generally, probiotics have been found to improve the health of calves and increase the efficiency of milk production in cows. The use of probiotics in animal nutrition has become a hot topic in recent years, thanks to advances in our understanding of gastro-intestinal microbial ecology, mode of action, and species (or strains) separation techniques. As a result, DFM is a promising future ruminant nutrition not only because of its favorable effects, but also because of its minor residual influence on animals and animal products. DFM can be used as a potential input in dairy cattle feed biotechnology, resulting in increased milk output, productivity and composition.

Given the current situation and the near future, the time to come for the dairy business at a smaller level could be even more laborious.

These issues are exacerbated for small and medium-sized dairy farmers. So, what should be done to run this business profitably under these circumstances and in the future?

To commence with, food is the most expensive item on the farm, and it has become extremely overpriced in recent years. Concentrate, wheat bran, silage, mineral mixture, and pharmaceutical prices have all increased, but milk prices have remained unchanged. This means that if expenses are reduced in some way, the company can turn a profit.

There is a solution to this, and if you follow it, I am confident you will profit greatly from Allah's grace. For working together brings Allah's blessings, so you should do it first. Some dairy farmers form their own collectives and pool their resources to purchase whatever they require. To illustrate, if you buy 10 tons of silage, you will pay 10 rupees per kg, but if you buy 100 tons, you will pay 8 rupees per kg. Similarly, the price of the rest of the items will fall. Because the larger the order, the cheaper the rate you obtain, this cost will increase your quantity.

In addition, whenever you need to purchase a concentrate, wheat bran, silage, or anything else, try to get all of the farmers to order it at the same time in order to get the best price. There is no science in it, nor is there anything that no one understands. The only problem is that all the farmers have to sit together in one place. It's just a matter of buying it. As the Nestle Company has discovered, if you want to sell milk, the higher the quantity, the higher the price. At Sapphire Dairy, he used to buy cow's milk from us for Rs. 60 and from a small farm for Rs. 45 approximately.

So starting today, try to form a group of ten people in your area and, instead of buying one thing at a time, buy together. Make a direct agreement with any company or dealer. When ten people come together, the servant will also respect you and give you something at a very low rate. I have seen that hundreds of farms are in one place, but all purchases are separate. The system is a retail system. If they start buying together, their spending on food can be reduced by 10 to 15%. And these cost savings can be added to your profits. I've seen people come to the veterinary store to buy one kilogram of DCP powder, and the veterinary store will give them up to three hundred rupees per kilogram, whereas a 25 kg bag will cost you Rs. 100 per kilogram. And if you take these bags in large quantities, it may be even less.

If this is not possible for you, then two or three people can buy some things from one of the big dairy farms in your area, but you will still get a lower price from the market. If not today, tomorrow, small farmers will have to do this.

I have read somewhere on social media that one of the benefits of rain is that I don't have to pay for watering my driven well, and the disadvantage is that the rain also falls on the adjacent land. This way of thinking is unfortunately found in every society, but you will find someone who is positive and looking forward to the future. God has some solution for every problem and coincidence is the greatest blessing. This has been happening in our neighboring country for the last five decades - from the union council to the state / province and also at the business level.

 The strategy to classify, affect, and control diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Humans, animals, and the environment play an important role in the development and transfer of diseases arising from different types of germs. Many pathogen-caused diseases in humans are also found in animals. According to the World Health Organization, zoonotic diseases refer to a disease that transmits from humans to animals or from animals to humans. There are 13 major diseases transmitted from animals to humans in developing countries of the world, which affect farmers in different ways. These diseases make four billion people sick annually and kill 2.7 million people, while also reducing animal production.

Classification of diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are caused by a variety of pathogens. Because of their etiology, these diseases are classified into many categories.  At first level, there are diseases transmitted from animals to humans that are caused by a variety of bacteria (e.g. anthrax, salmonella, TB, brucellosis). In the second level, there are diseases transmitted from animals to humans that are caused by a variety of viruses (rabies, ebola, avian influenza), in the third grade, diseases caused by a variety of parasites (trichomonosis, toxoplasmosis, tremattodosis, malaria, echinococosis). The fourth is disease that arise from ringworm.

Diseases transmitted from domestic animals to humans

Domestic animals play an important role in transmitting diseases to humans. Cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, horses, and cats have a variety of pathogens that can be transmitted to humans and cause various diseases. These diseases are transmitted to humans in different ways. Some diseases are transmitted by touching animals, while there are some diseases whose pathogens are released into the air by animals, and when humans breathe in that air, the disease is transmitted. However, there are some diseases that are transmitted by animal bites. The diseases transmitted from animals to humans include anthrax, salmonella, TB, brucellosis, rabies, ebola, avian influenza, tricogenesis, toxoplasmosis, trematodosis, malaria, and echinococosis, which are of greater importance.

Anthrax is very important among diseases transmitted from animals to humans. The pathogen of this disease survive for a very long time in the soil and are prone to spreading the disease. This disease is transmitted to humans when humans and animals such as sheep, goats, and cows are kept in one place. In addition, the disease can be transmitted from one person to another. Globally, about 2,000 to 20,000 people are affected by the disease each year. The mortality rate from this disease ranges from 25 to 65% in countries whose economies depend on agriculture, where the disease is causing a lot of losses.

The other major disease which is transmitted from animals to humans is known as tuberculosis or TB. It is the cause of a great decline in animal production. This disease is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis. The disease can be spread to humans through animal cough, and it can also be passed through animal milk if it is not boiled and utilized. Many people working with animals, such as veterinary doctors, butchers, and others, are very prone to disease from the affected animal, so every effort should be made to prevent the disease.

Brucellosis is one of the most common disease transmitted from animals to humans, affecting roughly 500,000 people worldwide each year. This disease is caused by Brucella bacteria. The disease can be transmitted to humans by contaminated air and un-boiled animal. In addition, animals are aborted, lameness is prevalent, and milk produced by the animals decreases. The condition affects those who work on dairy farms, veterinary professionals, and other workers. This poses a greater risk, so brucellosis should be tested on the farm, and the affected animals should be separated.

Rabies, also known as bawala pan, is another important disease spread by animals to humans. Rabies kills 20,000 to 70,000 individuals per year throughout the world. The germs that cause this disease are more common and are found in cats, and from these animals it is transmitted to humans. In developing countries, the disease is also transmitted by dog bites. The appearance of the disease in humans depends on the place where the affected animal has bitten. The obvious signs of the disease are that the animal affected by it is very afraid of water.

Diseases transmitted from pets and birds to humans

The risk of diseases being transmitted from pets to humans has considerably increased as a result of human-pet friendship. About 14 to 62% of people keep their pets in their bedrooms, which has increased the risk of these animals transmitting diseases to humans. More serious infections include Brucellosis, Campylobacteriosis, Rabies, Influenza, Q-fever, Hookworm, Salmonellosis, and Toxoplasmosis.  Nowadays, the practice of keeping birds of different species in homes has also become very popular. These birds, including gravel parrots, Australian parrots, and other different birds, transmit various diseases to humans. Avian chlamydiosis, avian influenza, and salmonellosis are more important in diseases transmitted from birds to humans.

Effects of diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Although it is a difficult task to assess the effects of disease transmitted from animals to humans, we can generally see the number of people affected by the disease and its effects due to problems arising from the disease. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans have serious consequences for humans, such as causing people to perform their regular jobs incorrectly. It is a major problem, especially in developing countries. There are some diseases in which a person has to be separated from other human beings. In such a situation, these diseases also cause mental illness. If animals die from diseases transmitted from animals to humans, they have a very negative effect on livestock farmers, and if these animals are only affected by the disease and do not die, they greatly reduce production, so that the farmer faces a lot of problems economically. Production decreases by a percentage. The loss in human milk supply, the reduction in meat supply, and the reduction in wool and egg supply all reflect this decline. Similarly, some disorders render animals sterile indefinitely, preventing them from having calves in the future. This significantly reduces the profits of dairy farms. Some diseases, such as anthrax and avian influenza, cannot be transferred from one country to another, thus causing various problems in global trade. Due to the mad cow disease in animals, there has been a great decline in animal trade globally, as a result of which many countries have suffered economically. There are some diseases that are very prominent in developing countries, such as the problems of declining production from animals suffering from the disease of brucellosis.

Ways to control diseases transmitted from animals to humans

 Since the diseases transmitted from animals to humans are interrelated among man, animals and the environment, we need a multidimensional approach to control these diseases. Surveillance is of great importance in controlling such diseases. With the help of surveillance, we can detect the disease at the beginning, so the infected humans and animals can be thoroughly researched, and with the help of surveillance, we can take various steps to control the disease in time. Surveillance is critical in various regions around the world since diseases carried from animals to humans are prevalent everywhere. The best labs and more manpower are required for a successful surveillance program. To control diseases transmitted from animals to humans, we can conduct the four surveillance activities listed below:

• Pathogen surveillance, which indicates the disease-causing pathogens

• Serological surveillance, in which pathogens are checked in blood samples of humans and animals

• Syndrome surveillance, this procedure collects records of humans and animals suffering from disease and then concludes with the help of this record

• Risk surveillance, which examines various factors that cause disease.

To control these diseases, we can also use various other methods, such as providing treatment to affected animals, vaccination of healthy animals, reducing animal movement in various places, and removing affected animals from the herd. The disposal of animals affected by the disease can also control various diseases. In the case of diseases that are transmitted by touching the affected animal, the items used by the animal should be handled carefully.

There are some diseases that affect animals more than once. We must adopt a comprehensive strategy to control such diseases that can affect us more often. There are some diseases transmitted from animals to humans that we can completely eradicate with a comprehensive strategy, but there are many problems in developing countries with eradicating them. To prevent diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans, we must implement a One Health strategy in which medical doctors, veterinary doctors, and other health professionals collaborate to solve these problems.

We also have to make various laws to control diseases transmitted from animals to humans and implement them strictly, as when animals are brought from another country to our country, first they should be kept in a protective place for a period of time and tests should be conducted on various diseases found in them. We can also control these problems because of the vaccination program, creating awareness among individuals so that they are aware that these diseases are transmitted to humans and cause various problems.

 Housing Systems of Poultry

There are four different types of housing systems that poultry farmers commonly use. The type of housing adopted is mostly determined by the amount of land and capital available.

They are:

1.      Free-range or extensive system

2.      Semi-intensive system

3.      Folding unit system

4.      Intensive system

A.    Cage (Battery) system 

B.     Deep litter system

1. Free-range system

This is the oldest approach, and it has been utilized by regular farmers for years in areas where land is plentiful. This arrangement provides birds with a lot of space on land where they can obtain a lot of food in the form of herbage, seeds, and insects, as long as they are protected from predatory animals and infectious diseases like parasite infestation. The system is practically absolute at the moment due to the advantages of intensive methods.

Ø   Construction of free-range poultry housing requires less investment. It is the most affordable sort of poultry housing. Because birds can ingest a large amount of feed from grassland, feeding requirements are reduced. Because the bird droppings mix with the soil, this technique helps to preserve fertility.

Ø   Drawbacks are, applying scientific management approaches will be challenging. When the birds lay  their eggs in the dense grasses of the free-range, you may lose chicken eggs. Predatory animals cause a lot of losses for many farmers in this system. Unless suitable precautions are followed, wild birds may get into contact with your birds and infect them with diseases.

2. Semi-intensive system

 This approach is frequently adopted when free space is limited, but it is still important to provide each bird with 20-30 square yards of outside run. This space should be divided as much as possible, with each bird having a 10-15 square yard run on either side of the house, allowing them to move onto fresh ground.

Ø  In comparison to the free-range approach, it is a more cost-effective use of land. This technique protects birds from the effects of extreme weather. In this system, you can use scientific management procedures to a certain level. However,

Ø  Fencing is expensive.

Ø  Cleaning and removal of litter particles from the pen should be done on a regular basis.

3. Folding unit System

 This housing system is a relatively new development. The position of the birds in a movable folding unit is changed every day, providing them fresh ground, and the birds find a significant amount of their feed from the herbage, making them healthier and harder.

The disadvantages are that food and water must be carded out to the birds, and eggs must be brought back, and the regular movement of the fold units requires more labor. The folding unit designed for 25 chickens is the most convenient to handle. As with the intensive system, each bird should have a floor area of 1 square foot in the house and 3 square feet in the run, for a total floor space of 4 square feet per bird. A folding house for 25 birds should be 5 feet wide and 20 feet long, with the house being 5' X 5', or one third of area for run. The section closest to the house is covered, but the remaining 10' is left open with wire netting sides and lop.

Ø  Because the birds pick most of their food on the range, you spend less on feeding them.

Ø  This strategy, like the free-range system, aids in the fertilization of the soil.

Ø  You must carry food and water to the birds and return them at regular intervals.

Ø  Every day, extra labor is required to move the fold units around in this system.

Ø  It costs more than the previous two housing systems.

4.     Intensive system:

The birds in this system are completely confined to the house, with no access to land outside, and it is commonly used in areas where land is limited and expensive. This has only been made feasible by allowing the sun's direct rays to fall on the house's floor, causing the windows to either fold or slide down like train windows, allowing the ultraviolet rays to reach the birds. Intensive poultry housing systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

They are as follows:

§  Deep litter system

§  Slated or wired-floor system

§  Combination of the slatted floor and deep litter system

§  Aviaries

§  Cage (battery) system

Cage system and deep litter systems are the most popular in intensive systems.

A.    Cage (Battery) system

 The inventor's most recent contribution to the commercial egg farmer is this device. This is the most intensive method of poultry production and is ideal for people who only have a limited amount of floor space. In today's big cities, it's rare to find someone who wants to raise chickens on open space. This approach will prove worthy of maintaining birds in the smallest amount of room for all such persons.

Each hen in the battery system is confined to a cage that is just large enough for her to stand and sit comfortably with very limited movement. The standard floor area is 14 x 16 inches, with a height of 17 inches. The floor is made of standard strong galvanized wire that slopes from back to front, allowing the eggs to roll out of the cage and into a receiving gutter as they are laid. A tray for droppings is underneath. Outside the cage are food and water containers.  Many little cages can be joined together, and it can be multistory if necessary. The entire construction should be made of metal to ensure that parasites are not retained and that cleaning may be done as needed. This approach has proven to be incredibly successful in tropical nations when the batteries of cages are set up in an area that is properly ventilated and illuminated, is not too hot and vermin proof, and the food meets all nutritional criteria. It's possible that because it requires the bird to expend the least amount of energy, as it spends the entire item in the shade, it reduces the burden of excess body heat. Each bird's performance can be monitored, and culling can be done quickly. Pullets, which are more commonly utilized than older birds, should be put in the cages at least one month before they are expected to lay.

The feeding of caged birds must be carefully considered, as the birds are completely reliant on the feed for their survival and reproduction. Cod liver oil, yeast, and dried milk powder are useful for supplying vitamins A and D, as well as fish meal or other animal protein, balanced minerals, and some sort of grit must be made available.

Because each cage will only contain pullets, fertilized eggs will not be present; instead, vegetative eggs will be present, which can be stored for longer than fertilized eggs at room temperature but cannot be used for hatching.

Pathogens that cause infections are difficult for the birds to pick up. There is no waste of space or food with this strategy. In the cage system of poultry production, disease is also difficult to transmit. You can easily identify cannibalism victims and remove them. In chicken husbandry, cannibalism occurs when a bird pecks at another bird. You can also identify birds with infectious disorders and isolate them for treatment in the same way. The system necessitates less labor. Because the birds cannot nibble on the eggs, there is less egg cracking in this technique.   It is easy to collect eggs in this method. This approach also has a lower mortality rate.  Cleaning the individual cages and disposing of the manure is challenging.

Drawbacks are depending on the intake of the birds in the cage, food distribution may not be accurate. Cage layer fatigue is a sickness that affects the birds often. The bird is lying on its side, giving the appearance that it is paralyzed. As a result, this is known as cage paralysis or cage layer fatigue. It could be caused by a lack of calcium and phosphorus, although the actual cause is unknown. It necessitates a substantial initial expenditure. Manure handling can be difficult, and flies become a bigger problem in general. Blood spots appear more frequently in eggs. Breast blisters are more common in broilers, especially when the broiler weighs more than 1.5 kg.

B.     Deep litter system

 The poultry birds in this system are maintained in large pens with up to 250 birds each, on a floor coated in litter such as straw, sawdust, or leaves to a depth of 8-12 inches. The texture of deep litter is similar to that of dry compost. To put it differently, deep litter is defined as the accumulation of litter material with poultry manure until it reaches a depth of 8 to 12 inches. To achieve the intended results, the build-up must be done correctly, which requires very little attention.

·         Safety of Birds: Wild animals, flying birds, and other predators can take birds on the wing, even in a fenced-in yard. The birds and eggs are safe when kept in a deep litter dense pen with robust wire netting or expanded metal.

·         Litter as a source of food supply: It may surprise you to hear that some of the dietary requirements of birds are met by built-up deep litter. They get "Animal Protein Factor" from deep litter, and some research suggests that birds can get enough of it to make a suitable feed ration using only a vegetable protein like groundnut meal. Vitamin levels, such as riboflavin, increase by roughly threefold. The combination of this and the Animal Protein Factor is required for good egg hatchability and early chicken growth.

·         Disease control: Deep litter that is well-managed and kept dry, with no damp spots near water, has a sterilizing effect. Coccidiosis and worm infestation are substantially lower in birds (or chickens) housed on good deep litter than in bare yards and bare floor shelters, especially where water spillage is allowed.

·         Labor saving: This is one of the most important aspects of using deep litter. Cleaning out poultry enclosures on a daily or weekly basis is a significant amount of effort. There is no need to clean a pen out for a year if proper conditions are observed and well-managed litter is used; all that is required is regular stirring and the addition of some material.

·         The valuable fertilizer: With deep litter, this is a valuable economic consideration. 35 laying birds may create around 1 ton of deep litter fertilizer in a year, according to McArdle and Panda. Fresh manure has a nitrogen content of about 1%, whereas well-built-up deep litter may have a nitrogen content of around 3% (nearly 20 percent protein). It also includes about 2% phosphate and 2% potassium, and its value is almost three times that of cattle manure.

·         Hot weather safeguard: In a hot climate, this is a critical feature. Because the litter maintains its own steady temperature, birds burrow into it to cool off when the ambient temperature is high. When the temperature is particularly cold, they can also warm themselves in the same way. As a result, it is an excellent insulator. In contrast

Ø  Bacteria and parasite infections may be a problem due to direct interaction between the bird and the litter.

Ø  Dust from the litter can cause respiratory difficulties.

Ø  Litter is a cost that is not included in the production cost.

Ø  Faults in the ventilation system can be far more dangerous than those in the cage system.

Summary

This is only a sampling of the different kinds of poultry houses and housing systems available. The deep litter and cage system are the easiest to adapt for commercial chicken farming.

In the meantime, I'd like to know which of these poultry housing systems you prefer.

Will you raise your chickens in a deep litter system or in a cage system?

Do you want to build a free-range poultry system or a semi-intensive poultry system with your vast plot of land?

Please let me know what you've decided in the comments section below.