MCU14/0028 Appendix 3 chicken-meat-guidelines

   Multi-use litter – Only caked material is removed and litter may be re-used after each batch of
    chickens. Shed is disinfected with litter in place, or litter is heaped in the shed for a period of
    time for pasteurisation. Litter may be used 3–5 times.

Details on litter clean-out can be found in the Meat Chicken Technical Environmental Note 1, FSA
Environmental – http://fsaconsulting.net/pdfs/Note%201-Litter%20Clean-out%20V2.pdf

    Performance criteria                             Acceptable outcomes
    P1                                               A1
    Sheds stocking densities must be managed         Sheds must be stocked at densities that
    to ensure:                                       comply with the Animal Care and Protection
     the minimum standard of animal welfare         Regulation 2002.
        is complied with and/or exceeded
     bird health and performance is not             A2
        reduced.                                     The material for bedding should:
                                                      be dry, light and highly absorbent
    P2                                                dry rapidly
    Bedding should be appropriate for use in          remain friable
    meat chicken sheds.                               be free of contaminants such as heavy
                                                        metals and preservatives
    P3                                                be suitable for use as a soil conditioner
    The moisture content of the shed litter must        or fertiliser
    be managed to minimise odour, dust and            be cost-effective.
    ammonia emissions.
                                                     A3
    Litter and manure beetles need to be             Litter moisture in the sheds should be
    controlled to avoid damage to insulation and     maintained between 15 and 30 per cent
    wood structures and to reduce the risk of        moisture content (wet basis).
    disease spread.
                                                      Extra dry bedding material or dry litter
    P4                                                should be added to areas of wet litter in the
    Shed cleaning, sanitation and fumigation          shed or the wet litter should be removed
    practices that:                                   and replaced.
     minimise the risk of disease transmission
       between batches                                Evenly distribute at least 45 mm of
     minimise noise, dust and odour impact           uncompacted bedding to sheds at the start
       from shed cleaning on sensitive land           of a batch.
       uses.
                                                      Waterers must be maintained and repaired
    P5                                                to minimise leakage that will result in wet
    Sheds and equipment must be maintained            patches in the shed litter
    and repaired to minimise odour, dust and
    noise emissions from the meat chicken farm.      Control measures (such as pesticide
                                                     application, composting spent litter, total
                                                     shed clean-out or a combination of these)
                                                     should be implemented to control manure
                                                     beetles.

                                                     A4
                                                     Avoid cleaning sheds when litter is
                                                     excessively dry or wet to minimise dust and
                                                     odour impacts.




Queensland Guidelines Meat Chicken Farms                                                       28