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NH3 levels and resulting emissions during the handling of manure within animal-production facilities have significant health, safety, odor-generation and environmental impacts. Aerial concentrations of ammonia were measured in the air leaving and downwind of a 1.6 million caged layer poultry facility using two types of manure management - belt/composting and deep pit. In addition, N-balances were done using a controlled volume approach based on N/ash ratios. Results showed clear advantages of belt/composting over conventional deep pit systems with N retention in compost of 0.560kg/bird/yr versus 0.265kg/bird/yr in deep pit manure. In addition, even with high NH3 concentrations leaving the composting building (90 and 160ppm), atmospheric concentrations were less than 0.25 ppm beyond 50m and total emissions 1/2 of conventional cage layer systems. Data was presented in terms of source concentrations and emission rates. The handling practices associated with the housing systems studied were outlined as background material.