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Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
The Effects of Earthen Manure Storage Covers on Nutrient Conservation and Stabilisation of Manure
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2001 | No Comments
In December of 1999 DGH Engineering Ltd. received a research grant from Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative to evaluate changes in the composition of manure during its storage in covered earthen manure storage basins. The primary purposes of the study were twofold: to determine the impact of covers on the conservation of nutrients in stored manure; and to evaluate the role of covers in the stabilisation of organic matter in manure. This study was conducted at two locations, the van Aert Family Farm near St. Clement, Manitoba and the
Preun Family Farm near St. Andrews, Manitoba.
From the study, it has been found that nitrogen losses can be reduced by as much as 82% through the use of a cover, and that although the extent of stabilisation of organic matter in manure is comparable for both covered and uncovered earthen manure storages during the winter and spring, covered earthen manure storages experience stabilisation of organic matter, as evidenced by reductions in VFA concentrations, at an earlier point in time in the summer than uncovered earthen manure storages.
Negative Air Pressure Cover for Manure Storage Basins
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Offensive odours are the major cause of complaints from swine facilities. The odour released from conventional earten storage basins is related to the surface area exposed to the environment. Currently, options to cover these basins to reduce the exposed surface area are limited to straw, plastic or synethic covers. Straw covers are very popular due to their low cost, however straw must be replced annually, allow precipitation into the basin, and create problems during pump out. Synethic floating covers and low-profile air supported covers are expensive and may be damaged in high winds.
Respiratory Disorders of Hog-Confinement Workers
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Introduction
There is growing concern about the impact on human health of living near large-scale hog confinement facilities. This matter has received a great deal of attention in recent years as the number of hogs raised in such buildings has increased and as the public has become more concerned about environmental issues in general. Whether or not large-scale hog farming is good for the economy has become a subject of heated debate in which economic and social as well as medical questions are raised. As this complex topic is discussed, care must be taken to avoid confusing the neighborhood health concerns with work-related health problems seen in hog confinement workers. There is much more information published about problems caused by working inside hog confinement facilities. Even though the characteristic hog odor is can be quite apparent in the neighborhood as well as in the barns, one cannot assume that the neighborhood exposure is sufficient to cause the same health problems that the workers experience from breathing the air inside the buildings. The effects of working in the hog confinement barn The effects of working in the hog confinement barn have been studied extensively by investigators in Canada, the US and in Europe. It has been known for some time that working in hog confinement facilities causes chronic or intermittent respiratory symptoms in approximately 1/3 of workers. These respiratory symptoms consist of cough (which may or may not be productive of phlegm), chest tightness, wheezing and shortness of breath with heavy exertion. Depending on the group of symptoms displayed, the subject may have chronic bronchitis, an
asthma-like syndrome, or exacerbation of pre-existing asthma. Very rarely, a true allergy to hogs develops that is associated with allergic asthma. The respiratory impairment associated with this work is usually not severe. However, even a small to moderate decrease in lung function can be problematic in workers who perform heavy physical labor. Hog confinement workers who smoke cigarettes are at risk for developing severe, disabling chronic lung disease. Cigarettes alone cause significant chronic respiratory disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema) in about 20% of smokers. The negative effects of cigarette smoke and work in the hog barn environment are
additive.
Dietary Manipulation to Reduce Aerial Ammonia Concentrations in Nursery Pig Facilities
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Two four week trials and three 5 weeks trials were conducted to determine the effectd of adding Yucca extract or anhydrous calcium chloride to nursery diets on the growth performance of nursery pigs and aerial ammonia concentration. The pigs were weaned between 13-15 days of age and had an initial bodyweight of 3-6 kg. In each trial, pigs were allotted three diets 1) control-containing 23% crude protein, 2) control plus 125ppm of Yucca extract 3) control plus 1.95% anhydrous calcium chloride. Growth performance was recorded weekly. Aerial ammonia concentration was measured using aspiration detector tubes. Manure samples were collected twice during the experimental period to determine ammonia and N concentrations and pH. Plasma urea concentration was determined in blood samples collected from the pigs at the end of each trial. Data were analyzed using split-plot and latin square designs for the preliminary and makor studies. Feed intake was similar among pigs fed all three diets. There was no difference in ADG and ADFI between pigs fed the control diet and pigs fed the Yucca extract diet. In all trials pigs fed the calcium chl;oride deit had lower ADG in grower-finisher than pigs fed all other diets. In the preliminary study, aerial ammonia tended to be greater in rooms with pigs fed Yucca extract> In the major study aerial ammonia increased weekly in all rooms. In the fourth week ammonia concentrations were higher in rooms where pigs were fed the control diet than in rooms where the other two diets were fed. Dietary treatment had no effect on plama urea concentration manure ammonia and N concentrations and manure pH. Although aerial ammonia concentration was relatively low the additionof Yucca and anhydrous calcium chloride to the diet of nursery pigs reduced ammoni concentrations in the nursery rooms.
A Strategy for Reducing Ammonia in Animal Production
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Diet manipulation to fix ammonia in bacterial protein, which excreted in feces, has been shown to reduce urinary nitrogen secretion by as much as 25%. Manipulation of the microbial flora, on the other hand, offers the possibility of establishing semi-permanent ammonia-fixing a
What's New with Odour?
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Biofiltration is a simple, low-cost technology that can reduce odours from ventilated airspace. A biofilter is a bed of organic material that consists of a mixture such as compost and wood chips. Odorous air passes through it and the microbes on the organic material convert odorous gases to carbon dioxide and water. The effectiveness of the biofilter is a function of the amount of time that the odorous air spends in the biofilter and its moisture content. The size of the biofilter depends on the amount of air needing treatment. Typically a biofilter requires 50 to 85 square feet per 1000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of airflow. The depth of the bed is about 10 to 18 inches. The cost per 1000 cfm of air to be treated is from $150 to $225.
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD) have built and are testing a biofilter to see how livestock producers can use this technology successfully. To verify and improve current air dispersion models, field analysis of odour dispersion of pig barns is being done. The final results will be an observed plume of odour coming from the pig barn. This type of work will help to understand how odour plumes disperse from livestock facilities, which will then aid the construction of effective biofilters.
Comparison of Odour Measurement Using Olfactory and N ButanolScale
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Measurement of odour emissions from swine operations is a difficult task. Olfactometers are currently the most accepted method for odour measurement. However, obtaining downwind odour samples that are representative to what is actually a
New studies are providing insight on soil sustainability
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How do repeated swine manure applications affect crop production, soil and environmental quality over time? A new study funded by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Fooda