Summary
Poultry farming is one of the most efficient animal husbandry methods and it provides nutritional security to a significant number of the world population. Using modern intensive farming techniques, global production has reached 133.4 mil. t in 2020, with a steady growth each year. Such intensive growth methods however lead to a significant environmental footprint. Waste materials such as poultry litter and manure can pose a serious threat to environmental and human health, and need to be managed properly. Poultry production and waste by-products are linked to NH 3 , N 2 O and CH 4 emissions, and have an impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as animal and human health. Litter and manure can contain pesticide residues, microorganisms, pathogens, pharmaceuticals (antibiotics), h
Regional applicability
Findings are internationally applicable but particularly relevant to the United Kingdom's intensive poultry sector, which faces similar regulatory pressures on ammonia and particulate emissions under environmental and occupational health legislation. The review's emphasis on antimicrobial resistance and pathogen transmission in high-stocking-density systems directly informs UK biosecurity and antimicrobial stewardship policy.
Key measures
Greenhouse gas emissions (NH₃, N₂O, CH₄); contaminants in litter and manure (pesticide residues, pathogens, antibiotics, hormones, metals); dust composition and airborne microorganism concentrations; antimicrobial resistance prevalence; odour impacts
Outcomes reported
The review examines environmental contamination pathways (air, soil, water) and human health risks from intensive poultry production waste, including greenhouse gas emissions, pathogen dissemination, antimicrobial resistance development, and occupational/community health impacts. It assesses waste management solutions and sustainability options for the poultry sector.
Topic tags
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