Lumense, an Atlanta-based developer of real-time sensors capable of continuously measuring the concentration of trace chemicals and biologicals in gases and liquids, began shipping its LG201 Poultry Ammonia Monitor.
The milestone follows two years of on-farm field trials conducted by Lumense, a Signature company of the Advanced Technology Development Center. The technology was developed based on research done out of the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
The new product provides growers with current, trending and historical ammonia levels, allowing them to better manage the house environment. Trial users were more easily able to achieve, around the clock, an air quality “comfort zone,” improving flock performance while controlling heating and ventilation costs.
Industry researchers and leading integrators agree that maintaining consistently low ammonia levels can, by reducing bird stress, increase natural disease resistance and improve flock performance by about five percent. The worldwide broiler industry is valued at about $100 billion.
“We’ve learned a lot by testing our technology in working houses with leading farmers and integrators focused on providing healthy, affordable poultry products,” said Mike Slawson, Lumense’s chief executive. “We’ve not only been able to improve the accuracy, affordability, and reliability as a result, but also the ease of use. We’re quite excited to be able to help the industry finally address the vexing challenge of ammonia management by offering this breakthrough product.”
The LG201 mounts on the wall of a poultry house control room near the ventilation controller and connects to it via an analog current or voltage interface. By drawing air through an intake tube positioned at bird height in the poultry house, the unit automatically measures ammonia levels every two minutes. Readings and maintenance alerts are displayed according to grower preference within a PIN-secure user interface, and can be stored, redisplayed, or downloaded onto a USB drive for up to one year.