MXPA97005720A - Method for controlling ammonia, infartation by arthropods and reducing tension in animals, in agricultural production of confined animals - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for treating an environment containing ammonia and / or population of arthropods, which comprises applying to the surface or substrate in contact with the environment, a non-toxic composition containing thiosulfide salt in an amount effective to reduce the ammonia and / or population of arthropods, to compositions containing thiosulfate and to the animal litter containing such composition

Description

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AMMONIAC, IA -LWESTACIQN BY pnprTryT? ffl ^ p fnnt.a nte Mipu? t.gq ryTHFpffliTff FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for treating an ammonia-containing environment and / or a population of arthropods, which comprises applying to the surface or the substrate in contact with the environment, a thiosulfate-containing composition. The method can be used to reduce the ammonia concentration in an ammonia-containing environment, to reduce the population of arthropods in an environment containing a population of arthropods and / or to reduce the stress of an animal in an environment containing ammonia and / or arthropods. The present invention also relates to compositions containing thiosulfate, elemental sulfur and optionally sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, and with the use of such compositions, particularly in the reduction of ammonia concentration, pH, animal stress and infestation by arthropods in an environment . In addition, the present invention relates to an animal bait comprising a thiosulfate composition and, optionally, a composition containing elemental sulfur.

REP: 25329 The physiologically toxic or unpleasant odors are widely present in the living environment of man, for example, in the production, processing, repackaging, filling, storage, retention of freshness, transport, disposal, etc., of various common products to the industries of agriculture, farms, afforestation, agricultural production of animals and fishing. Usually, compounds containing sulfur and nitrogen are responsible for such bad odors and effective treatments are still being sought. Among such compounds with bad odors, urea or uric acid are excreted by animals as a result of normal metabolism and are rapidly converted to ammonia by biological action, mainly by bacterial action. In aqueous systems, fish and other aquatic life animals excrete urea directly in the water, where it quickly becomes ammonia. Non-aquatic animals, including humans, also excrete urea in habitats and, in the particular case of domestic animals and livestock, in artificial habitats such as mangers, chicken coops, cages, bait containers and other indoor and outdoor housing structures. . Ammonia is also produced as a result of the decay of solid animal waste and uningested food, or undigested food in fecal matter.

At room temperature, ammonia is a gaseous environmental pollutant which has an annoying and undesirable odor. In concentrated animal populations usually found in common commercial animal production units for pigs and poultry, such as chickens (Gallus domesticus), turkey (Meleasris sallopavo), ducks (Anas plat-yyrh? Nchos). geese ÍAnser = pr¿. ), quail of the genus Corturnix (Cortunix cortunix or C_ Cortunix japonica), partridge (Colinus yirgiOianus), partridge of the genus Alectors (Alectors chukar), pheasants (PhaisanuS CQlchJCUS) and guinea or redfish, guinea fowl or pintada (Phaiaanus colchicus), production, accumulations of ammonia exert serious physiological stresses in the animal population, for example, in the production of poultry, ammonia concentrations that are usually found in confined growth conditions cause tension symptoms such as respiratory distress, increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, lower weight gain, blindness and in severe cases mortality. These effects are significant and also cause disease or death of the stressed animal, which causes economic losses to the farmer. Many strategies have been used to reduce the aforesaid confined growth stresses related to ammonia or the effects of mortality, for example, in flocks of poultry. For example, F.N.

Reece et al., "A &mt; mmonia in the Atmosphere during Brooding Affects Performance of Broiler Chic in", Poultry Science. 59, pages 486-488, 1980, describes a study in which the weight gain of young chickens exposed to ammonia during a period of 0-28 breeding days is adversely affected. A document of H.A. Elliot and N.E. Collins entitled "Factors Affecting Ammonia Relay in Broiler House", 1982, Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, pages 413-424, describes a computer program to model ammonia release (NH3) in nursery cages. Of the factors studied in the Elliot and Collins paper, the volatilization of NH3 is affected, in order of importance, by: the pH of the bait > > temperature > moisture content. As explained in that document, the nitrogenous end product of the degradation of uric acid is NH3, which includes the species of soluble H3 without change, NH3 (aqueous) and the ammonium ion, NH4 * • As further established in it , due to the partial equilibrium pressure of gaseous NH3 in the bait (PL), which is large compared to the partial pressure of NH3 in the environment in the atmosphere of the cage (PA), NH3 will be transferred from the bait to the atmosphere. It is suggested in the document that one of the most effective means to control the volatilization of NH3 is to chemically treat the baits with acid, for example phosphoric acid and volatile fatty acids, to maintain a low pH. In contrast to the bait treatment suggested by Elliot et al. specifically the treatment with a chemical acid, an embodiment of the present invention (as defined in the following) treats a surface or substrate in contact with an environment containing ammonia and / or a population of arthropods, for example, a chicken cage or of turkeys with a composition containing thiosulfate. Such a composition is non-acidic and consequently does not have the disadvantages described above. The present invention can be practiced to treat an environment used in the production of any of the animals mentioned above. Next, such an environment will be mentioned as an animal environment. Two or more important animal environments which can be treated according to the present invention are domestic chicken and turkey environments. Chickens raised for meat are called young chickens. Cages for young chickens have overcrowded densities typically ranging from approximately 11 to 16.5 birds / m2 (1.0 to 1.5 birds / square foot), based on climate, environmental conditions and target weight in the bird market. In typical densities of overcrowding in the southeastern United States it varies from approximately 13.2 to 14.3 birds / m2 (1.2-1.3 birds / square foot). Overcrowded densities for turkeys vary, since very small birds (pests) grow in separate constructions during the first month. Constructions for brood pigeons hacienda to approximately 33-44 birds / m2 (3-4 birds / square foot). Total growth constructions haccinate at a lower density, usually about 22-33 birds / m2 (2-3 birds / square foot) or less if you want to grow a large bird to its full capacity of 13.6 kg (301b) which may require 0.45-0.63 m2 / bird (5-7 square feet / bird). Conventional methods for reducing ammonia and / or reducing stress in breeding animals, for example by the use of zeolites, have not been successful. Forced ventilation of the animal environment is the most common, but has the disadvantage of excessive heating and energy costs. Chemical solutions, such as dilute mineral acids (eg phosphoric) have provided some relief, but they are corrosive, dangerous to the person applying it and require specialized equipment and storage. Other chemicals have been used, for example, alumina, quicklime, aldehydes and ketones, essential oils, persulfates, ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, alkanolamines and sulfa drugs. Each of them has encountered inherent drawbacks such as costs, irritant capacity, toxicity, corrosive ability or impractical dosing requirements. In addition, there are significant problems with pests and arthropods in modern integrated animal production. The main pests of arthropods found in modern high density PPf are: (a) ectoparasites: ticks, lice, bugs and (b) habitat pests: dark beetles (bait) and dirt flies (houseflies and other species) . Integrated pest management programs for arthropods should consider all of these pests. The major pest species of arthropod pests of concern and pest management strategies vary with animal, housing and production systems. The ecology of arthropod pests is passed in the artificial environment in which these pests and animals exist, and changes in the environment which reduce populations of arthropods can only be made if they are not harmful to animals. Since the environments of the various types of production facilities are different, the populations of arthropod pests and the adverse effects on the animal host caused by the particular arthropod population also differ.

The impact of arthropod ectoparasites on poultry, for example, involves stressing or stressing birds, feeding birds and / or serving as harmful organism vectors that are dangerous to birds. Pests that are not ectoparasites can nevertheless decrease the quality of the birds' environment and thus also cause tension to the birds. Common ectoparasites that cause tension to poultry include the northern bird tick, Ouiithonyssus sylviaru, the chicken body louse, Menacanthus strap? Neus, the chicken tick, Dezmanyssus gallinae, and the chinch, Ci ex lectularius . In confined poultry housing, a variety of insects and mites will be found in the accumulated manure of poultry (in shelters with a cage floor and below the boards in breeding houses) and in the litter (feces). mixed with wood shavings and other plant materials in growth housing for maturation of young chickens and turkeys, and portions of the housing for maturation of chickens). These arthropods are mainly beetle species (Coleoptera), flies, (Diptera) and meostigmatid ticks. Extremely large populations of all stages of habitat pests such as beetles can be found in some poultry houses, especially in the litter of young chickens and turkey housing. Beetles often accumulate in areas of higher temperature, adequate humidity (especially around drinking fountains) and nutrients (mainly chicken feed washed or dumped). As a result, a greater number of insects can be found below and around the feeders and feeders in the growth housing of young chickens and turkeys, and in areas of pulled food and manure accumulated under the chicken cages. The two main pests' species of bait beetles are Alphitábius diaperinus (Tenebrionidae), the dark beetle, and Dermestes maculatus (Dermestidae), the hidden beetle. Dark beetles are both reservoirs and vectors of a wide variety of pathogens, including several that are harmful to poultry production. They harbor fungi (Aspergillus), bacteria (Escherichia, Salmanella, Bacillus, Streptococcus), and viruses that cause leukosis (Maret's disease) and infectious bursitis (Gumboro's disease). Other viruses have also been recovered from the beetles, including agents that cause contagious epiteleoma, Ne castle disease and avian influenza. Avian coccidiosis, a major disease of poultry caused by protozoa (Ei dia spp.) Is a poor survivor of poultry litters, but they survive as oocysts ingested by beetles which can then be ingested by birds. The helminth cysticercoids (Choanotaenia and Raillietina) which affect the birds have recovered from A. diaperinus, demonstrating their role as an intermediate host. It has been suggested that insects can cause injury to birds [Bergmann et al. , Hautkarzinomatose bei Broilern, Mona. Veterinaermed .. 4., pp.815-17 (1986)], and the scratching activity of birds looking for beetles in the bait may increase the susceptibilities of birds to disease agents, due to irritation of the respiratory tract of the resulting powder. Attempts to reduce A. diaperinus in poultry houses have been, at best, only partially successful. Careful cleaning of the lodgings followed by a period in which they are left empty and unheated for a prolonged period in a cold climate will reduce the rate of increase in the beetle population in the subsequent groups, but these measures do not reduce satisfactorily the infestation The application of insecticides to the structure (including the base of the floor) after cleaning helps to reduce the survival of beetles, but mixing insecticides with disinfectants is risky due to a loss of both germicidal and insecticidal effectiveness. A variety of organophosphates, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides and borates are toxic to beetles as residues in structure or bait, but although they are effective in laboratory tests, they only provide temporary reductions of arthropod populations in bird housing. of corral. Similarly, insect growth regulators, juvenile hormone analogs, and avermectin and similar antiparasitic agents have effects on laboratory tests but have not been shown to be effective in the field. In view of the deficiencies and inefficiencies of the prior art, it is desirable to have a method to reduce animal stress resulting from ammonia and / or arthropod pests that is safe, non-toxic to animals including humans, easy to use and that be able to maintain confined animal growth environments at reduced pH and substantially free of ammonia and arthropod pests for a prolonged period of time. The present invention also relates to compositions containing thiosulfate, comprising elemental sulfur and optionally sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

The present invention is further directed to an animal litter comprising thiosulfate and optionally compositions containing elemental sulfur. The present invention additionally provides a method for treating an ammonia-containing environment and / or populations of arthropods, which comprises applying to a surface of the substrate in contact with the environment a non-toxic composition containing thiosulfate in an amount effective to reduce the concentration of ammonia and / or arthropod population in the environment. Ammonia can be produced in the air and / or trapped or on a surface of a substrate in the environment, for example, in animal waste in the form of ammonium hydroxide (NH40H). The method of the present invention is suitable for treating an environment containing ammonia and / or populations of arthropods such as closed and open environments which occur naturally or are man-made which include, but are not limited to litters of animals, animal litter containers, cages, crates or embalos. e tables, mangers, chicken coops, corrals, lodgings, public baths and other environments where you can find ammonia and / or pests of arthropods.

According to the present invention, the concentration of ammonia and / or the stress induced by arthropod infestation can be surprisingly reduced, for example, in poultry houses or corral3 for pigs, by adding a composition containing thiosulfate to the environment in the environment. an effective amount to reduce the concentration of ammonia and / or the infestation of arthropods in the environment. Such treatment has been found to reduce stress or strain (which can be measured by mortality or weight gain), decreases ammonia concentrations carried in the air and decreases the infestation of arthropod pests in animals that grow in confined or crowded conditions. The observed benefits include better utilization of feed which reduces an increased weight gain and therefore increased production, as well as reductions in harmful bacteria in the litter, reduction of irritation in the eyes of the animals and blindness, irritation buccal and / or reduced trachea in the animal, greater viability of animal populations and generally improved overall health. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the method of the present invention can be used by itself or in combination with any other known method for reducing ammonia concentration in an ammonia-containing environment, with the proviso that the other methods be practical with regard to considerations such as toxicity, irritation ability, dosing requirement and corrosive capacity. Thus, for example, the method of the present invention can be used in the summer in combination with ventilation elements, so that ventilation cools the environment and reduces the concentration of ammonia in the air. Accordingly, in a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for reducing the stress of an animal confined in an environment containing ammonia and / or concentrations of arthropods which comprises applying to a substrate surface in contact with the environment a composition not toxicant containing thiosulfate in an amount effective to reduce stress, in which the reduction in tension is determined by a reduction in animal mortality and / or an increase in the gain of animal weight in relation to mortality and / or gain of weight observed in an animal that is in the same environment in which the composition containing a thiosulfate salt has not been applied. By the term "same environment" is meant an environment which is the same or substantially the same with respect to temperature, density of animals and diet regime administered to animals.

The increase in weight gain will depend on the particular animal species, the period over which the weight gain is measured, the stage of development of the animal and the diet administered. Both significant increases in weight and decreases in the mortality rate have been observed in the practice of the present invention. The thiosulfate compounds used according to any of the embodiments of the present invention are not irritating or toxic to animals, including humans and are non-corrosive. Preferred thiosulfate-containing compositions are thiosulfate salts and include alkali metals such as sodium and potassium, and alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium. A particularly preferred composition containing thiosulfate salt is a composition comprising sodium thiosulfate. Such compounds containing thiosulfate salt are commercially available (eg, from PVS, General Chemical or Calabrian) and are often used in photography, scale prevention, dechlorination and mining. Sodium thiosulfate, in fact, has been used as a food additive for chicken rations and can even be supplied from the waste waters of a sulfur dye factory. Therefore, the ease of handling and the moderate nature of the chemical compounds useful in the present invention represents a significant advance in the protection of workers, animals and equipment, and at the same time provides an efficient reduction of ammonia in the air, of arthropod pests and animal stress in the management environment of confined-growth animals. The amount of composition containing effective thiosulfate to reduce ammonia and / or arthropod pest population and / or animal stress varies based on ammonia concentration and / or the size of the arthropod population present in the environment, and the method of application of the composition containing thiosulfate salt to the environment. The thiosulfate salt-containing composition is suitably introduced as a spray directed downward toward the litter at a concentration greater than 100 ppm, usually greater than 10,000 ppm. In other words, the composition containing the thiosulfate salt can be applied at a dose between about 0.048 to 9.764 kg / m2 (0.01 to 2 pounds / square foot) of target treatment area, preferably about 0.15 to 8.544 kg / m2 (0.03 to 1.75 pounds / square foot), more preferably to 0.244 to 7.32 kg / m2 (0.05 to 1.5 pounds / square foot). Typically, the composition is introduced as an aqueous spray. The composition can also be applied to a straw layer area, for example to the litter and adjusted as necessary to reduce the concentration of ammonia in the air, in the environment. The population of arthropod pests and to decrease the pH of the moisture present in the litter. By decreasing the pH of the moisture in the target area, the stability of the association between water and ammonia increases, which together form NH4OH. As a result, H4OH is less likely to dissociate into ammonia and water. Therefore, the concentration of ammonia that is formed by dissociation is reduced and, consequently, less ammonia escapes to the ambient atmosphere. A discussion about the effect of litter pH and volatilization of NH3 is presented in H.A. Elliot et al., In the paragraph that links pages 415 and 416, the content of which is incorporated herein. For convenience, the effect caused by the thiosulfate-containing composition may conveniently be referred to as ammonia fixation. Consequently, references in the following to a reduction in ammonia concentration should be understood to mean that the concentration of ammonia in the atmosphere of the environment is less than the amount which would otherwise be present in the atmosphere of the environment in absence of application of the thiosulfate-containing composition of the present invention or, expressed alternatively, the ammonia is fixed.

As used above, for an effective amount of thiosulfate-containing composition in relation to the embodiment of the invention that deals with the reduction of stress of an animal, it is meant an amount that reduces animal mortality and / or causes an increase in the weight gain of the animal in relation to the mortality and / or weight gain observed in an animal that is housed in the same environment to which a composition containing thiosulfate has not been applied. The pH of the litter on which the poultry and other growth animals are confined, when treated in accordance with the process of the present invention, decreases to two or more pH units. Untreated, the litter typically reaches pH levels exceeding 8 where bacteria abound. It has been demonstrated that a low pH decreases the number of harmful and pathogenic bacteria, so that the total tension in the group or in the herd is decreased. In particular, Salmonella is beneficially reduced by such a low pH so that the incidence of contamination by Salmanella decreases the slaughter of recesses. This effect is beneficial for processors for whom the reduction or control of contamination by Salmonella, for example, in chicken products, is of great importance.

The process of the present invention also provides environmental conditions within the poultry house, chicken coop, straw bed, litter, etc., which, in addition to reducing ammonia concentration, reduce, discourage inhibit and / or eliminate arthropod infestation and / or parasites that are commonly found in such areas, including dark beetles. Next, the term "control" or "control of arthropods" will be used generically with respect to the application of the composition containing thiosulfate to reduce, decrease, inhibit and / or eliminate the infestation of arthropods and / or parasites in a ammonia-containing environment and / or a population of arthropods, treated according to the process of the present invention. In an effort to obtain moisture in a confined growing poultry breeding cage, dark beetles in search of moisture have occasion to sting poultry when they are laid to rest. Such beetles can generate irritation to the skin and a wound or concomitant opening for bacterial infections such as grangrenose dermatitis. In addition, poultry can sometimes feed on beetles, either larvae or adults, in which pathogens are found. Adults infected in this way and larvae tend to aggregate so that large numbers will be found in certain areas in the poultry litter or in the manure. They will accumulate under boards, feeders or drinkers that are placed on the litter. Adult beetles and larvae often accumulate below dead or dying birds in the litter to feed on the dead animal or the corpse. Consequently, the present process allows the control of such beetles, parasites and pests as pathogenic vectors. An indirect method to measure the beetle population in order to determine an effective arthropod control application rate or regimen is to use a "tube trap". This trap is a piece of 25 cm long (10 inches) and 4 cm diameter (1.5 inches) of PVC with a rolled corrugated cardboard insert (such as that used for a hatchery protection). The holes near the end of the tube allow it to be fixed with hooks to prevent the birds from moving the tube. Then, the tube trap is placed in the litter for a week, the cardboard insert is removed and the beetles (larvae and adults) are counted. Each week a new cardboard insert must be inserted. At least 10 of these traps must be used per housing. The effective speed of Application of the composition containing thiosulfate to control arthropod pests can be adjusted on a daily basis according to the size and vitality of the arthropod population to be treated according to known methods. Another embodiment of the invention provides a process for treating a layer of animal or bird straw or a litter material with an effective thiosulfate-containing composition amount to reach and maintain the straw or litter layer of the animal or bird at a time. pH less than 7.5, preferably between 4 and 7, more preferably between 5 and 6.5. The straw layer or litter of the animal or bird treated in this way can be used in a confined environment or in a holding tank for animals or birds. The material of the straw layer or litter of the animal or bird may be an organic waste material, for example straw, such as wheat, barley, oats, rice, fodder, such as corn and a species of sorghum, cotton waste, grape waste, vegetable waste, wood cuts, sawdust, bagasse, peanut husks, tobacco peat stalks, cocoa husk, rice husks or any other organic waste material. The material of the straw or litter layer of the animal or bird is sawdust or some other absorbent material in which the thiosulfate-containing composition can be applied. In a preferred embodiment, an aqueous solution containing sodium thiosulfate can be made by emulsified elemental sulfur. Surfactants, dispersants and stripping agents may also be used, together with a small particle size form (preferably 5 micrometers or less) of elemental sulfur in order to produce a stable suspension of up to 15%, preferably between 8.0% and 12% by weight of sulfur in the final composition, preferably in a dispersion, which is suitable for application with standard agricultural spraying equipment. The small size of the sulfur particles and the presence of one or more conventional surfactants in the dispersion help to disperse the sulfur and promote the efficient use of the mixture by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Alternatively, the elemental sulfur can be introduced at a concentration of about 0.005 to 5 kg / m2 (0.001 to 1 pound / square foot), preferably from 0.025 to 2.5 kg / m2 (0.005 to 0.5 pounds / square foot) , more preferably from 0.05 to 1.25 kg / m2 (0.001 to 0.25 pound / square foot), either together with, in sequence with or independently of the composition containing thiosulfate. The unexpected advantage of the use of elemental sulfur in the compositions of the invention is that the same group of microorganisms that convert thiosulfate to sulfate also oxidize elemental sulfur to sulfate. Although the biological process is slower, a given weight of sulfur will generate a greater amount of acid than thiosulfate. Accordingly, treatment with elemental sulfur alone (ie, in the absence of a composition containing the thiosulfate), for example, up to 72%, preferably 10-25% by weight in an aqueous dispersion thereof, also provides bacteria with effective pH reducing species to carry out the described ammonia binding reaction. The thiosulfate-sulfur mixture, in effect, is a two-stage product, in which the thiosulfate reacts rapidly to reduce ammonia in the air, and the elemental sulfur provides the necessary acidity over a longer period of time. The application of such a mixture can reduce the pH of the litter in poultry houses confined for growth up to three pH units or more. The aqueous thiosulfate composition stimulates the population of sulfur oxidizing bacteria so that the use of elemental sulfur begins rapidly. The mixture is also effective, unexpectedly, to reduce arthropod pests. Thiosulfate is the preferred substrate for providing metabolic energy immediately available for bacteria that oxidize sulfur. However, anions containing sulfur, for example sulfite and bisulfite and metabisulfite individually or together, can also be used in a formulation with other substrates to form multiple-stage products to provide energy for the bacteria. Accordingly, for the purposes of the present invention, it is to be understood that any reference herein to thiosulfate can be replaced by sulfite, metabisulfite or bisulfite, unless the context indicates otherwise. A further embodiment of the invention is to supplement the thiosulfate and / or sulfur application (especially the application of a liquor or an aqueous dispersion thereof) with a concurrent and / or consecutive application of an effective pH reducing amount of sulfur oxidizing bacteria. , such as Thiobacillus hiooxidans. As a result of this supplementary application, the thiosulfate is biologically oxidized in itself by bacteria and the active acid species are produced in the litter, thus decreasing the litter's pH. In a preferred embodiment, a culture enriched with sulfur oxidizing bacteria is applied in the form of an inoculum. By the term enriched culture, it is meant a culture of selected bacteria isolated from particular environments, for example, litter for cages for poultry, by a technique of supplying specialized substrates, by which the relative abundance of these bacteria is encouraged. better dispose of the use of the substrate. You can use a concentrate of such enrichment, concentrate which is stable for storage and transport. The concentrate can be re-cultivated to make a larger volume preparation of the desired bacteria, and ready for addition to a similar environment from which the original enrichment has been recovered. Such cultures are typically used in microbiological applications to supplement a preexisting bacterial population. These enrichment cultures are carried out according to known methods, and do not represent a great risk of harmful or pathogenic bacteria. Since many breeders disinfect or carry out procedures designed to reduce the amount of all bacteria before introducing a new group of birds to the pen, cage or other growth area, the population of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria can likewise reduce. The use of an enrichment culture in the method of the present invention ensures that the appropriate bacterial oxidation of thiosulfate or elemental sulfur, or thiosulfate and elemental sulfur takes place in situ so that the litter pH actually decreases and the concomitant benefit of a reduction in ammonia stress and a reduction in the arthropod population is easily obtained, particularly in those circumstances in which the population of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria is low. Therefore, it is considered that the use of a dispersion of small and dispersible particles of elemental sulfur together with a "seed population" of sulfur oxidizing bacteria can be effective to reduce the pH in a litter and alleviate the physiological stress due to ammonia in the air and arthropod pests. It will be appreciated that the use of a bacterial enrichment culture as described in the foregoing is an additional feature of the process of the present invention. In still another embodiment of the invention, alkaline earth metals such as calcium can be substituted by sodium (or potassium) in the thiosulfate-containing composition or the solution used in the invention. Such divalent cations interact with soluble phosphate to form salts which have reduced solubility. Consequently, when a litter containing alkaline earth metals is used which is dispersed in the fields to carry out its fertilizer value, a smaller quantity of soluble phosphate escapes to the aqueous pathways during precipitation. Therefore, the solubility of reduced phosphate retains the fertilizer value in the field as well as a reduction in the degradation of water quality in adjacent bodies of water.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, dyes or colorants, or both, can be added to the composition or solution containing active thiosulfate so that the applicator can be easily visualized for placement of the active material on the substrate, for example in the litter to ensure a total covering with the substrate. The thiosulfate-containing composition of the invention may contain other additives, such as dispersants, surfactants, perfumes, coloring agents, adsorbents, etc., which do not adversely affect the ammonia concentration or stress reducing properties of the mixture. of thiosulfate or thiosulfate / sulfur. In some cases, due to the high level of ventilation of the environment in which the thiosulfate-containing composition of the present invention is added, the environment will be free or substantially free of ammonia. When the environment comprises ammonia, the concentration of ammonia will be equal to or lower than the level that generally causes stress in the animal species, that is, it will be at a level that will be mentioned below as a concentration of ammonia that does not cause stress. It has been observed that the compositions of the present invention also reduce the stress or stress of animals confined in such environments. The reduction of tension is observed by a decreased mortality rate or a higher average body weight of the animals compared to control animals. In such environments, stress is the result of factors other than ammonia, for example, the presence of a population of arthropods. Accordingly, in a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for reducing the stress of an animal confined to an environment in which the ammonia is at a concentration that does not cause stress, which comprises applying to the surface or the contact with the environment a non-toxic composition containing thiosulfate salt in an amount effective to reduce stress, wherein the stress reduction is determined by a reduction in animal mortality and / or an increase in the weight gain of the animal, in relationship to mortality and / or weight gain that is observed in an animal that is housed in the same environment in which a composition containing thiosulfate salt has not been applied. It will be understood from the foregoing that the thiosulfate-containing composition can be added to an environment which is free or substantially free of ammonia; to an environment that contains ammonia; or that can be added to an environment which will contain ammonia at a later date. Similarly, the thiosulfate-containing composition can be added to an environment such as a litter without an arthropod population, which already contains a population of arthropods or in an environment which will contain such a population at a later date. Accordingly, references in the following, an environment containing ammonia should be understood to encompass all environments which are anticipated to have ammonia at some point. Similarly, references in the present to an environment containing a population of arthropods, encompass environments which, at some point, will contain such a population. When the composition containing thiosulfate salt is added to. an environment which is anticipated to contain ammonia and / or a population of arthropods, an effective amount of composition containing thiosulfate salt is an amount sufficient to reduce the estimated or anticipated amount of ammonia, and / or to control the infestation of pests of arthropods in the environment and / or in an amount to lower the pH. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composition containing thiosulfate salt is in the form of an aqueous solution. Such aqueous solutions are typically 10-50% by weight, preferably 20-40%, most preferably 25-30% thiosulfate by weight, based on the weight of the solution. Solutions may have lower thiosulfate concentrations by weight, however, and still produce a measurable beneficial effect. Solutions greater than 50%, for example up to 95% or higher, although obviously effective, are considered unnecessary. Generally, the compositions of the present invention are added to the environment to be treated, such as a dilute aqueous solution, for example, when being sprayed or spread on a surface or substrate in contact with the environment, for example an animal litter. After drying, the resulting thiosulfate crystals are very small and the physicochemical mixing and microbial oxidation are carried out immediately, albeit at different speeds. The crystalline or non-biologically mediated interaction between thiosulfate and ammonia, when present, depends on mixing and contact with the ammonia gas. The biologically mediated oxidation of thiosulfate depends on the relative numbers of sulfur oxidizing bacteria. Many application variations can be used in order to produce the desired effect. In a preferable use, it is treated before a new group of poultry is introduced into the environment. In housing commercial broilers, a single application is sufficient to sustain the group for approximately 40 days of reduced ammonia concentration and / or reduced pH and / or reduced stress and / or reduced population of arthropods. The thiosulfate-containing composition can be applied directly to the environment, for example, to an environmental surface or in environmental substrates (for example animal litters, latrines, soil, etc.) by a suitable method, for example, by spraying or by applying it with a brush or a mop. Alternatively, the surface or substrate can be manufactured with the thiosulfate-containing composition in association with, for example, cage woods. It is currently preferred to apply the active solution to the environment in an amount sufficient to wet or coat the area with the solution until the portion of the environment in contact with the active solution is wet. The environment does not need to be rinsed or saturated with an active solution containing thiosulfate. One skilled in the art will readily understand, in view of this description, that the amount of active solution or crystals needed to treat an ammonia-containing environment and / or a population of arthropods will depend on the size of the area to be treated, the method of application, the composition of the substrate (for example a litter, a layer of straw, hardwood, tile, concrete or coated floors, or walls, ceilings or other components of structures, clay, metal, wood for cage, zeolite, etc.) that will be in contact with the thiosulfate-containing composition, the amount and rate of ammonia production estimated or anticipated in the environment, the concentration of the active solution and the ammonia-controlling capacity or thiosulfate-containing composition used, the composition of arthropods, among other factors. For example, when the composition containing thiosulfate salt is to be added to an animal litter, such as sawdust, the high surface area and the high absorptivity of the sawdust generally require a relatively larger amount of the composition together with the mixing of the litter to cover completely or cover the available surface area of the litter. In the broader aspect of the present invention, the thiosulfate and / or thiosulfate-sulfur treatment can be used effectively in portable latrines or toilets, for example those commonly found in public places, for example, in parades, concerts, sporting events and the like, where many people gather. Many other variations and uses of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the above detailed description. All of such obvious variations are within the total proposed scope of the appended claims.

The present invention will now be illustrated with the following examples, it being understood that the examples are not limiting.

EjepplQ 1 A method is developed to treat an environment that contains ammonia in which the concentration of ammonia is a concentration that does not cause tension, due to the presence of strong ventilation, the study is carried out during a warm climate (3 20 ° C ).

Method Twelve yards of 1.2 m x 3.6 m are used (4 x 12 feet). Six pens are control pens, to which a composition containing thiosulfate is not applied and six are test pens to which a composition containing thiosulfate is applied. The composition containing thiosulfate is applied in a concentration of 0.244 kg / m2 (0.05 pounds / square foot) of sodium thiosulfate and 0.058 kg / m2 (0.012 pounds / square foot) of elemental sulfur to the litter in each pen. The litter used is a group of old pine shavings. Additional breeding conditions (temperature / humidity) are maintained for 24 days. The chickens receive the same food mixture. The total amount of food consumed by chickens in the four test pens is 240.3 kg (529.8 lbs), the total amount provided to the chickens in the control pens is 238.7 kg (526.4 lbs). The total weight of the test chickens is 216.7 kg (477.7 pounds) and that of control chickens is 211.0 kg (465.2 pounds).

Raaulta oa Example 2 A method is developed to treat an environment containing ammonia (a housing of young chickens) in which the concentration of ammonia is at a level that causes stress or stress. Each lodging for tender chicken measures approximately 12 x 150 m (40 x 500 ft). The ventilation in all the accommodations is at the same level.

Study 1 (control) Four lodgings for young chickens as described above, the total number of birds in each lodging is 24,500. The birds are checked during a period of 42 days. The accommodations have only been used once before.

Study 2 (test) After completing study 1, the upper part of the four shelters for young chickens is reused for a repeat of study 1, except that in the case of this study, a composition of sodium thiosulfate and elemental sulfur is used in accordance with the present invention to spray the litter before placing the birds in the housings.

Results A measurement of the pH in the litter in the housings of study 2 is presented in figure 1. From this figure it can be seen that the pH decreases markedly below 6.5 in the presence of the thiosulfate-containing composition of the present invention. In the absence of the composition of the present invention, the litter pH is about 8.5. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (17)

REIyTNDICACIQNES

1. A method for treating an environment containing ammonia and / or a population of arthropods, characterized in that it comprises applying to a surface or substrate in contact with the environment a non-toxic composition containing thiosulfate in an amount effective to reduce ammonia and / or population of arthropods.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the environment is selected from the list of animal litter, containers for animal litter, cages, crates or packagings of tables, cribs, poultry houses, corrals, lodgings or cages, public baths and other environments where you can find ammonia and / or arthropod pests.

3. The method according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the environment is a housing or cage for chickens or turkeys.

4. A method for reducing stress or stress of an animal confined in an environment containing ammonia and / or arthropod population, characterized in that it comprises applying to the surface or substrate in contact with the environment a non-toxic composition containing thiosulfate in an amount effective to reduce stress, in which the reduction of tension is determined by a reduction in animal mortality and / or an increase in the weight gain of the animal, in relation to mortality and / or weight gain observed in an animal housed in the same environment in which a composition containing thiosulfate salt has not been applied.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the concentration of ammonia in the environment is a concentration that does not cause stress or stress.

6. A method for reducing stress or strain of a non-human animal, raised in confinement, characterized in that it comprises treating the straw layer or litter of the animal with an effective amount of a composition containing thiosulfate mixed with up to 10% by weight of elemental sulfur emulsified based on the weight of the mixture to reduce the pH of the straw bed or litter of the animal to less than 7.5.

7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the thiosulfate-containing composition is a salt.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the salt is a composition containing a thiosulfate salt and alkali metal or thiosulfate and alkaline earth metal.

9. A method for reducing stress or stress of an animal in a confined growth environment, containing ammonia, characterized in that it comprises applying to a surface or substrate in contact with the environment a composition containing alkali metal or alkaline earth metal thiosulfate, not toxic, in an effective amount to reduce animal stress in the environment.

10. The method according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the composition containing the thiosulfate salt is added in an amount ranging from 0.048 to 9764 kg / m2.

11. A method for reducing or eliminating the infestation of arthropod pests in a confined growth environment containing an animal, characterized in that it comprises applying to a surface or a substrate in contact with the environment a composition containing thiosulfate salt in an effective amount for reduce or eliminate arthropod pests in the environment.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the composition containing thiosulfate salt is a composition containing sodium thiosulfate.

13. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substrate comprises a litter.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition containing the thiosulfate salt is in the form of an aqueous solution.

15. The composition containing the thiosulfate salt, characterized in that it comprises a composition containing thiosulfate and alkali metal or thiosulfate and alkaline earth metal and elemental sulfur.

16. The use of a composition containing thiosulfate salt, according to claim 14, in a method as claimed in accordance with claims 1 to 13 above.

17. The litter material to which a composition containing thiosulfate has been applied. The present invention relates to a method for treating an ammonia-containing environment and / or population of arthropods, which comprises applying to the surface or substrate in contact with the environment, a non-toxic composition containing thiosulfate salt in an effective amount. to reduce the ammonia and / or population of arthropods, to compositions containing thiosulfate and to the animal litter containing such compositions.