A System for On-Farm Preservation and Storage of Swine Mortalities

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 1998 | No Comments

Phosphoric acid presevation of swine mortalities offers the promise of value-added products and protection of the environment from excessive nutrients, odour and the risk of disease transmission. The ensiled material is suitable for long term storage, and it can be made essentailly pathogen free. The key to making this process practical for on-farm use is a system that reduces labour and is convenient to use on a daily basis or as needed. This paperis a progress report on the debvelopment of a preservation system which includes grinding, pasteurization and phosphoric acid preservation.

Composting Separated Swine Manure Solids

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Composting of solid swine manure is becoming an increasing laternative for manure handling straegies. This particular study examined the ability to compost solid swine manure with two media: sawdust andchopped fescue hay. The solid manure and sawdust or fescue hay were placed in compost bins in ordr to achieve a carbon:nitrogen ratio of 25-35:1 and a moisture content of 55-65%. Internal temperature fo the compost wasmeasured to predict biological activity, the compost was mixed when the internal temperature decreased. Preliminary resultrs saw a reduction in weight of 33% in the manure-sawdust mixture and 59% in the manure-fescure chopped mixture. Compostinfg days ranged from 36 – 44 days.

Buildings Environmental Impact Assessment

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To study a construction as an element modifying the environment simulation by infographic photocomposition are made. The physical resources of the landscape can be seen before and after the incorporation of the construction planned (quality of content).The composition of the elements of the construction and the aesthetic resources can be studied by different points of view and modifications can be done throughout the simulation. The visual and aesthetic aspects of any object are defined by their color, form, line and texture characteristics. Elements of compositive reference can also be verified such as the scale and the spatial character in the landscape. The texture are particularly discussed in this article. Simulation are done using computer infographic technology in the composition using the landscape photograph as a background where some elements can be removed or added including constructions designed in CAD (computer aided design). The simulation allows for modification of the elements (changes in the characteristics, in the location) in the landscape.
Interesting work can be done with such tools to verify the impact on the landscape of construction projects. Optimization of location and material characteristics can be done before the construction is started. Lowering the visual impact of the construction on the rural landscape can help lower the attention given to swine buildings.

Odor Control for Animal Agriculture

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Odour generation, emissions, and movement are very complicated processes. Several technologies can significantly reduce odours from livestock production but can range in the simplicity, maintenance and price. This document reviews many odour control technologies, some that have been rigorously tested and other that have yet to be evaluated but are generally accepted by some engineers and/or producers.
There is the option of reducing odour during land application. This can be done through injection or immediate incorporation of the manure into the soil. Another aspect of manure application is the agitation of liquid manure storage facilities. Pit additives are the odour control method most often used in these situations. There is the option of reducing odours during the manure storage period as well by adding a cover. There are gas impermeable covers that capture gases, which are then treated, or permeable covers, which simply decrease the amount of emissions into the air. Anaerobic digestion and aeration are also methods of reducing odours during storage.
There are odour reduction practices for buildings as well. The best method appears to be the elimination of the source of odour rather than the treating of it afterwards. This can be done through diet manipulation, keeping the building clean and sprinkling vegetable oils in swine pens. After odours are created, it is possible to reduce them through ventilation in the buildings and by using biofilters.
Odour management plans, part of manure management plans are becoming standard practice. They would list odour sources, odour potential and control strategies. These plans may serve to diffuse some of the controversies between producers and their neighbours by directing the discussion to strategies and practices.

RESEARCH STRATEGY FOR HOG MANURE MANAGEMENT IN CANADA

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The hog industry in Canada has grown more than 400% since 1982. The 12.2 million animals in
Canada produce 24.4 million tons of manure annually. The present trend in hog production, i.e., toward
a greater number of animals per farm, results in excessive manure production on a small land base and
greater distances to utilize manure for crop production without causing pollution. This situation has led to environmental concerns with current hog manure management.

Environmental impacts of hog production are
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Ammonia volatilization and dust concentration as affected by ventilation systems in houses for fattening pigs.

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 1997 | No Comments

One way to improve air quality inside houses for fattening pigs is to locate the air inlet near the breathing zones of pigs and the stockman and the outlet near the main source of contaminants, i.e. the slatted floor and slurry pit. This may increase the total emission of ammonia by speeding up the airflow above the emitting area. To investigate this, a ventilation system with the inlet in the feeding passage and the outlet just above the slatted floor (system F) was compared with a system common in the Netherlands having a high, diffuse inlet and a high outlet (system C). The two ventilation systems were installed in each of two rooms in an experimental house. A layer of oil was used on the slurry to decrease the volatilization of ammonia from the pit. Continuous measurements were made of the ventilation rate and of the ammonia concentrations in the air inlet and outlet, in the slurry pit, and at animal level on the solid and slatted floors. Dust concentrations were measured 1.5 m above the floor in the feeding passage. The urine-wetted area of the solid floor was recorded. In comparison with system C, system F gave significantly lower values for dust concentration in the feeding passage (P<0.001) and for ammonia concentration at animal level on the solid and slatted floors (P<0.05). There was no difference between ventilation systems with regard to ammonia emission or the urine-wetted area of the solid floor. It is concluded that air quality in houses for fattening pigs can be improved by a low air inlet in the floor of the feeding passage and a low outlet just above the slatted floor and slurry pit, instead of a high diffuse inlet and a high outlet; these locations do not affect the total emission of ammonia to the environment.

Measuring Emission Rates of Ammonia, Methane and Nitrous Oxide from Full-Sized Slurry and Manure Stores

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Improvements in the sampling methods for nitrous oxide and methane have to done to help doing measurements on site.

Reducing Ammonia Emission from Composting Swine Feces Using Microorganisms

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The results showed that the use of bacteria at high temperature of the manure (50-55 C) can assimilate ammonium and reduce ammonia emissions by a composting process. The assimilation mechanism involved will have to be investigated further. The experiment was realized in laboratory in very controlled condition. The assimilation of the bacteria would need to be investigated in real scale situation. The cost of such a treatment is not presented.

Accelerated lung function decline in swine confinement workers

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Recirculation flushing: Environmental Aspects

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A whole analysis of the emissions coming from indoor the livestock building and also the emissions resulting from the treatment is not made. This would have given very interesting information. Ammonia reduction should be considered all through the manure management cycle.