Hygienic inspection of water and soil on Ukrainian poultry farms

Abstract

The poultry health and productivity depends not only on genetic potential, but also on compliance with sanitary and hygienic guidelines for keeping and raising poultry, quality feed and water. The purpose of the study was a sanitary, hygienic and environmental survey of four farms, three of which are engaged in organic production, for further research on poultry in these farms. As organic poultry farming has its own peculiarities, in particular in terms of the availability of walking areas, the sanitary and hygienic condition of the soils allocated for them studied. Studies of water and soils by conventional microbiological and physicochemical methods. Poultry housing parameters assessed visually and checked for compliance with hygiene guidelines. The results of the study revealed the proper quality of water for watering poultry in all farms. At the same time, significantly, higher levels of dry residue, sulfates and chlorides noted in water samples from farm № 4, but their values did not exceed the maximum allowable level. Regarding the soils on the playgrounds in the farm № 1 high content of humus - 5.8 %, a significant concentration of nitrogen, both ammonium (11 mg / kg) and nitrate (34.8 mg / kg), and exchangeable potassium - 191.8 mg / kg. In our opinion, high levels of these substances are associated with the use of chemically synthesized nitrogen, potassium and other fertilizers. Therefore, such soil is unsuitable for arranging pastures (walking grounds) for organic birds. The total soil microbial count was lowest in farms № 3 and 4, where rotary pastures for poultry are used. The presence of pastures in the cultivation of organic poultry is one of the main criteria of animal welfare. Thus, the conducted hygienic analysis of farms № 2, 3 and 4 established the suitability of their soils for the arrangement of pastures for organic poultry farming, and water - for watering poultry.