How do I decide what rate to use?
The rate of PLT to be used can differ based on litter age, litter quality, previous litter management, floor moisture, and ammonia flux. Our rates take into effect all of these variables. The PLT Product Data Sheet recommends the following:
·Broiler litter: 1 year old or less – 75-100-lbs. / 1,000 sq. ft. of floor space
·Broiler litter: Older than 1 year – 100-150-lbs. / 1,000 sq. ft. of floor space
·Windrowed litter – 150+ lbs. / 1,000 sq. ft. of floor space

What does the “PLT Cloud” mean?
The PLT cloud is seen if the house is not properly purged of ammonia prior to application. It is a non-toxic fog that forms when PLT reacts with ammonia gas in the environment. If the cloud is heavy and dense, you will loose significant amounts of longevity of PLT. Consult the PLT Product Data Sheet for proper application procedures.

How does relative humidity impact PLT?
The activity of PLT can and will be directly impacted by the relative humidity percentage (RH %) in the house. The ideal RH % range for baby chicks as well as PLT is the same— between 50% to 70% If the RH % is below 50% the PLT reacts very slowly with the ammonia releasing from the floor. RH % below 50% also contributes to dehydration of baby chicks.
On the other hand, if the RH % is above 70%, the opposite will happen. The extra moisture will cause the PLT to activate too quickly, decreasing the longevity of ammonia control.

How does PLT impact paw quality?
PLT improves paw quality. Ammonia in the damp areas of the litter is corrosive to the skin and causes Foot Pad Dermatitis development. When PLT is applied and the ammonia in the damp areas is neutralized, paw lesions are significantly reduced. Remember, it is OK to re-apply PLT in wet areas during the flock to reduce ammonia damage to the paws.

Why shouldn’t I apply PLT 3-5 days before placement?
Because PLT and most litter amendments are hygroscopic, meaning they start to activate immediately upon application. When PLT is applied this far in advance, it will activate with the large amount of ammonia that comes off the floor during pre-heating. This wastes the PLT that was applied and leaves little product available to bind ammonia once the chicks or poults arrive.

Why is floor temperature important when applying PLT?
PLT can be applied on a cold floor, BUT the product will start reacting with ammonia as soon as it is applied. When the house is preheating, the ammonia purge will start and will peak at around 85 degrees. If the PLT is applied prior to the floor reaching 85 degrees, it will be consumed by the ammonia purge leaving very little to control ammonia during the rest of the brooding period.

What happens to ammonia when litter is heated?
The two drivers of ammonia release from the litter are temperature and surface area. When heat is applied to the litter to prepare for bird placement, the increased temperature drives ammonia from the floor into the air. From a bird performance aspect, it is critical that the ammonia purge caused by pre-heating take place prior to PLT application and bird placement to increase the longevity of ammonia control well into the brooding period.

Should I use PLT in the off chamber?
Yes. When it is time to move birds down, a 24 hour preheat period is usually standard procedure. Unfortunately, just as ammonia purged in the brood chamber at pre-placement, the ammonia will purge off the off chamber floor once the floor reaches 80-85 degrees. This can occur as late as 36-48 hours post move down. The ammonia purge during this time will have significant impact on the performance of the birds causing a loss of weight and feed conversion. By applying PLT one (1) hour prior to move down, it will drastically reduce ammonia challenge, help birds migrate faster, and minimize vaccination stress thus increasing your bottom line..

Should I spray the litter with water if it is too dry?
No. If you spray the floor with water, you will create a wet surface area that will chill baby birds.

How does PLT affect the litter pH?
pH is the measure of the concentration of the hydrogen ions in solution. The greater the concentration of hydrogen ions, the lower the pH. Most broiler litter has a pH of 7.5-8.5 prior to PLT application. Once PLT is applied, the surface pH can drop to 1.8-2.0 making the surface of the litter acidic. This is what neutralizes the ammonia being released from the litter surface.

What should I maintain as my minimum litter depth?
The ideal litter depth for a typical broiler production should be about 6 inches. Less litter depth will cause the loss of insulating value of the litter and will reduce absorptive capacity. This will cause more fuel usage and it will be harder for the birds to maintain body temperature during brooding. When litter depth gets over 10 inches it becomes harder to manage the moisture, beetles and ammonia flux creating a harsh environment for the flocks.

How long can I reuse my litter?
There are a lot of different opinions on this with in the industry today. It is our opinion that built up litter /manure can be successfully utilized for about 24-36 months at the most. After that, manure loads become so high that ammonia release is exaggerated. Growers can either clean-out or strip the litter from the sidewalls to reduce the manure load.