Antimicrobial additive for large animal or poultry beddings

1. A method of reducing ammonia levels in large animal stalls or poultry barns comprising the steps of applying a minor amount of a clay-based particulate material comprising a antimicrobial agent in combination with a major amount of an absorbent bedding material over the floor of said stall or barn, wherein said minor amount of the clay-based particulate material comprising the antimicrobial agent is applied to the floor of said stall or barn and the major amount of said absorbent bedding material is applied over said clay-based particulate.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said antimicrobial agent is 1,3-Propanediol, 2-bromo, 2-nitro (Bronopol™).

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said antimicrobial agent is present in said clay based particulate at a concentration in the range of from 50 to 250 ppm.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises montmorillonite.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises mixture of montmorillonite and diatomaceous earth.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein said clay-based particulate material is applied at a rate of from 0.22 kg/m 2 to 0.43 kg/m 2 .

7. The method according to claim 2 wherein the average particle size of said clay-based particulate is approximately −24 mesh.

8. The method according to claim 2 wherein the absorbent bedding material is selected from the group comprising straw, saw dust and wood shavings.

9. A method of reducing ammonia levels in large animal stalls or poultry barns comprising the steps of applying a minor amount of a clay-based particulate material comprising a antimicrobial agent in combination with a major amount of an absorbent bedding material over the floor of said stall or barn, wherein said major amount of said absorbent bedding material is applied over the floor of said stall or barn and said minor amount of the clay-based particulate material comprising the antimicrobial agent is applied over said absorbent bedding material.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said antimicrobial agent is 1,3-Propanediol, 2-bromo, 2-nitro (Bronopol™).

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said antimicrobial agent is present in said clay based particulate at a concentration in the range of from 50 to 250 ppm.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises montmorillonite.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises mixture of montmorillonite and diatomaceous earth.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein said clay-based particulate material is applied at a rate of from 0.22 kg/m 2 to 0.43 kg/m 2 .

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein the average particle size of said clay-based particulate is approximately −24 mesh.

16. The method according to claim 10 wherein the absorbent bedding material is selected from the group comprising straw, saw dust and wood shavings.

17. A method of reducing ammonia levels in large animal stalls or poultry barns comprising the steps of applying a minor amount of a clay-based particulate material comprising a antimicrobial agent in combination with a major amount of an absorbent bedding material over the floor of said stall or barn, wherein said antimicrobial agent is present in said clay-based particulate at a concentration in the range of from 50 to 250 ppm.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said antimicrobial agent is 1,3-Propanediol, 2-bromo, 2-nitro (Bronopol™).

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises montmorillonite.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises mixture of montmorillonite and diatomaceous earth.

21. The method according to claim 17 wherein said clay-based particulate material is applied at a rate of from 0.22 kg/m 2 to 0.43 kg/m 2 .

22. The method according to claim 17 wherein the average particle size of said clay-based particulate is approximately −24 mesh.

23. The method according to claim 17 wherein the absorbent bedding material is selected from the group comprising straw, saw dust and wood shavings.

24. The method according to claim 17 wherein said minor amount of the clay-based particulate material comprising the antimicrobial agent is admixed with said major amount of said absorbent bedding material before being applied the floor of said stall or barn.

25. A method of reducing ammonia levels in large animal stalls or poultry barns comprising the steps of applying a minor amount of a clay-based particulate material comprising a antimicrobial agent in combination with a major amount of an absorbent bedding material over the floor of said stall or barn, wherein said minor amount of the clay-based particulate material comprising the antimicrobial agent is applied to the floor of said stall or barn at a rate of from 0.22 kg/m 2 to 0.43 kg/m 2 and the major amount of said absorbent bedding material is applied over said clay-based particulate.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein said antimicrobial agent is 1,3-Propanediol, 2-bromo, 2-nitro (Bronopol™).

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said antimicrobial agent is present in said clay based particulate at a concentration in the range of from 50 to 250 ppm.

28. The method according to claim 25 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises montmorillonite.

29. The method according to claim 25 wherein said clay-based particulate comprises mixture of montmorillonite and diatomaceous earth.

30. The method according to claim 25 wherein the average particle size of said clay-based particulate is approximately −24 mesh.

31. The method according to claim 25 wherein the absorbent bedding material is selected from the group comprising straw, saw dust and wood shavings.