Mortality in a battery laying house attributed to the presence of noxious gases from slurry
Blaxland, J.D.; Shemtob, J.; Francis, G.H.; Jones, G.E.
Veterinary Record 103(11): 241-242
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 716171 Document Number: 129805
In three days 130 hens in a flock of 4000 layers died. They were all housed in the middle and bottom tiers of one bank of cages, close to leaking manhole covers. The slurry in the underfloor pit had been stirred by pumping in air just previously, and the extractor fan was not working. This sequence of events was re-enacted, and measurements showed that short and long-term exposure limits for hydrogen sulphide were exceeded, although ammonia and carbon dioxide were within permitted levels. PM findings included straw-coloured fluid in the pericardial sacs, often accompanied by fibrin clots, friability of liver, pulmonary oedema and haemorrhagic ovarian follicles. It is recommended that units using slurry pits check atmospheric conditions, ventilation, air capacity, leaks and use of additives, such as acidic disinfectants, which may exacerbate gas production.