EIP-Projekt-Datenbank

Federal State

Lower Saxony and Hamburg

Project Title

Maritime climate in poultry houses

Project description

For chickens, heat stress in the house can be lethal. Dry air is also harmful because it contains pathogens, dust and ammonia that come from litter, feathers and droppings. The „Maritime air in poultry houses“ project team is developing and testing a technical solution to mitigate temperature peaks in the house and to reduce ammonia, pathogens and fine dust in the air. The innovative new components of the planned air-conditioning und -filtering system already exist in similar form, for example in food processing. Aerosolised hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) kills bacteria and viruses, while an ionization process binds mold spores, bacteria and dust. The human senses perceive this process as a sea breeze, creating the impression of salt in the air.

Final report

Download report (PDF file)

Status of the report

2025-08-12 15:17:37

Results focusing on practiceorientation

The effects of H₂O₂ nebulization and indoor air ionization on barn climate, dust load, and animal health were studied on two broiler farms, each with one project and one control barn. Farmers subjectively reported better air quality in the project barn. Measurement values for temperature, humidity, NH₃, and CO₂ showed no reproducible differences. Humidity slightly increased during nebulization, which could explain individual deteriorations in footpad health; a cooling effect at animal height was not measurable. Fine dust measurements could not be conducted as planned; dust trays showed 10-20% more dust deposition at the end of the fattening period - an indication of dust clumping due to the technology. Air germ reduction could not be demonstrated. Fattening performance and animal health were comparable based on slaughter data and pathological-anatomical examinations. Indications of an effect were likely overshadowed by the automatic barn climate technology.

Main funding source

Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013)

Project status

completed

Total budget applied for in EUR

495,560

Link 1

project website of EIP Lower Saxony

NUTS3 CODE

DE94F