Chicken farm is a promising business in Indonesia since chicken meat consumption in Indonesia which continuously to increase annually. But when viewed from health aspect, farm business produces ammonia waste form chicken feces which able to pollute the environment. Ammonia is a chemical compound in form of gas with a typical strong-odor. Ammonia is a metabolism product from chicken, which if left in a cage in too high concentration can make health problems either in chicken or surrounding communities. Only by the existence of 2 ppm ammonia in the henhouse, can lead to respiratory problems that gives impact in declining of chicken productivity.
Originated from anxiety on it, five University of Brawijaya (UB) students under supervision of drh. Dahliatul Qosimah, M.Kes creates a siphon device in the henhouse named Salifa (Stop Aminia dan Limbah Feses) as bio-security action into diseases in the henhouse. The five students are including two students of Faculty of Computer Science, Khairul Anwar (Computer Engineering 2014) and Miftahul Rizki Purwonegoro (Informatics 2014), and also three Faculty of Veterinary students, Dian Agustiar (Veterinary 2013), Dicky Yoga Prasetia (Veterinary 2013) and Hana Razanah (Veterinary 2013).
Salifa is created by using several components consist of sensor, exhaust fan and microcontroller and also active zeolite to absorb ammonia. The tools and materials assembled in such way in the cage so that the air exchange in the henhouse could be maximally and able to prevent air pollution. The sensor to be installed in Salifa automatically will detect the existence of ammonia. Of the data detected by sensor and transferred to the microcontroller will be known ammonia level in the henhouse.
If the ammonia level indicates number more than 2 ppm according to SNI standard, then the exhaust fan will turn on automatically and the air in henhouse will be absorbed outside. Behind the fan, already available active zeolite gravel which functioned to absorb ammonia, so that the air which released in the cage had no odor and does not cause air pollution. If ammonia then already detected in safe condition or under 2 ppm then exhaust fan will automatically turn off without the need to be monitored or manually turn off, thus improving energy efficiency to be used.
With Salifa, ammonia level in the henhouse could be reduced thus chicken farming becomes more healthy, increased appetite and also do not cause environmental pollution. [tim salifa/dna/Humas UB/trans. Denok]
