Farmed Animals

Ammonia in Livestock Buildings and Welfare

High ammonia concentrations in intensive livestock buildings cause respiratory disease and chronic welfare problems.

Key Facts

Ammonia from animal urine and faeces accumulates in poorly ventilated livestock buildings
Concentrations above 25 parts per million cause respiratory damage and eye irritation in animals
Broiler sheds regularly exceed welfare threshold ammonia levels especially late in the growing cycle
Pigs in slatted systems experience high ammonia exposure linked to respiratory disease
Improved ventilation, slurry management, and lower stocking density reduce ammonia levels significantly

Welfare Considerations

Chronic ammonia exposure in poorly ventilated livestock buildings causes respiratory damage, eye irritation, and reduced immunity that animals endure throughout their productive lives. Ammonia levels are a measurable indicator of environmental welfare quality; consistently exceeding safe thresholds indicates systemic welfare failure.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes that include mandatory ammonia monitoring
Choose products from farms with documented air quality management
Advocate for mandatory air quality standards in livestock building design and management
Support research into practical ammonia reduction strategies for intensive livestock systems