Air emissions from broiler houses in California

The emission rates (ER) of ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and particulate matter (PM) (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and total suspended particulate, TSP) were monitored at two broiler houses in California from September 2007 to October 2009. Each of the two identical buildings housed an average of 21,000 broilers raised in 46 d growth cycles with a space allowance of 1430 cm² bird^-1 and an average market weight of 2.65 kg. The litter in each house was partially replaced after the first and second flocks and completely replaced after the third flock in a three-flock litter management cycle. The environment of each house was controlled by 11 single-speed ventilation fans, two evaporative cooling cells, and 17 heaters. The average daily mean (±SD) ERs of ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide were 0.503 ±0.436, 78.3 ±47.5, and 0.00289 ±0.00251 g d^-1 bird^-1, respectively. The average daily mean ER of PM₁₀ was 45.0 ±39.0 mg d^-1 bird^-1. The influences of environmental conditions and other factors on ERs were assessed. The ERs were influenced by broiler weight or age, ambient temperature, and litter status, with the exception of PM, which was not influenced by litter status.