Economic Implication of Reduced Crude Protein Diets for Pigs to Reduce Ammonia Emissions

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

The authors doesn’t explain the difference in costs of the conventional and lower crude protein (CP) diets. For UK conditions, the results obtained in this publication show that the use of CP diets are economically not interesting to producers unless they produce manure in excess to dispose properly on the land that is available for them. Economical incentive would be necessary to integrate such practice. Further data are needed to evaluate pig performance and to assess the true economical situation for the U.K.

Loi sur la protection du territoire et des activites agricoles.

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The law on the protection of the rural territory and agricultural activities is presented in this document. The rural territory in Quebec is protected from non-farming uses. In addition to the law ruling this zoning, right-to-farm provisions have been added to protect from lawsuits accepted farming practices realized in rural territory.

Sleighfoot solves a stinky problem

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The Sleighfoot Manure Applicator (SMA) imported from Holland in 1992 by the Dairy Producers’ Conservation Group (DPCG) has been tested by its members. Field trials made by Dr. Bittman of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada at Agassiz allowed him to conclude that the SMA is “environmentally responsible and economically sensible”.
SMA applies manure at the plant base by its feet riding on the ground surface. The vegetation is being combed and the plants resume their upright position. As the manure is applied at ground level, no splashing occur compared to more conventional manure spreader thus limiting the emissions of gases and odors to the air, no damage is done to the plants by flattening or burning from the manure and the nutrients contained in the manure are more easily available to the roots. Furthermore when SMA is used in growing crops the leaf canopy unfold after the SMA passage limiting considerably the odors and emissions. Manure spreading can be done at any time from April to September and particularly when the crops need it most.
If considering variable cost, the SMA is more interesting than splashplate spreaders because less ammoniac emissions keeping more nitrogen available to the plants. However if considering the capital cost, the SMA is less interesting. Leasing, jointly own or hire custom operators could alternatives that would improve the economics of SMA.

This technology of spreading manure at ground level into crops is very interesting and currently used also in Quebec with spreaders manufactured in the province. It offers a good control on the odors and gas emissions while spreading.

Design of Anaerobic Lagoons for Animal Waste Management

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These standards give the minimum criteria for the design and construction of livestock waste anaerobic lagoons sited in agricultural or rural areas. The standards consider location, odour control, nearby residences, air flow pattern, water supply, soils and foundation. The lagoon size determination is discussed considering loading rates and climatic conditions.

Nutrient Flows in Agriculture in The Netherlands with special emphasis on Pig Production

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Annual nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) flows in agriculture in The Netherlands were identified and quantified in 1990, with special emphasis on pig production. Also, the effects that various management strategies in pig production have on NPK emission in 1990 were compared using a static deterministic simulation model. Ammonia emission from pig production in 1990 (60.9 Gg N) exceeded the defined target for the year 2000 (12.7 Gg N). Measures that affect volatilization of ammonia directly (i.e., introduction of low-emission stables, manure storage facilities, or manure application techniques) reduced ammonia emission most effectively. These measures, however, should be combined with a reduction in application of artificial N fertilizer to avoid an increase in N losses through leaching, run-off, or denitrification. Targets for ammonia emission in the year 2010 require a reduction in the pig population of 24 to 62%, in addition to implications of measures described in this article. National NPK losses in 1990 through leaching, run-off, or denitrification, predicted at 223.5 kg/ha for N, 32.7 kg/ha for P, and 67 kg/ha for K, exceed government targets for the year 2010 (185 kg N/ha; 8.7 kg P/ha; norm not set for K). Reducing application of artificial NPK fertilizer reduced national NPK losses most effectively. For P, use of phytase and feeding pigs in accordance with their P requirements is required, in addition to limited use of artificial P fertilizer, to meet targets for the year 2010. Hence, from an environmental point of view, pig production in The Netherlands is limited primarily by ammonia emission targets for the year 2010.

Biofiltration System for Testing the Reduction of Odor from Swine Buildings

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Testing was done at North Carolina State Univ. on 3 pilot-scale biofilters and the apparatus related to the operation of such biofilters built to treat odorous air coming from the swine gestation building pit. The biofilter medium was a 3:1 mix of yard waste compost misture and wood chips misture. Temperatures, flow rates, and pressure drop were measured by a computer through out the testing and the computer also measured and controlled the moisture content of the biofilter medium. This project wanted to evaluate the performance of those biofilters and ensure that this setting would be useful for futur research projects on scientifc experiments of swine odor reductions. The odor measurements were done using the cotton swatch absorption method and the samples were analyzed by a panel. Odor intensity, irritation intensity and unpleasantness were the parameters measured in five tests and the reductions from the use of biofilters compared to untreated odorous air were 61%, 58%, and 84% respectively.

This pilot scale experiment is interesting because it could lead to larger scale installations. However the odor analysis done with the cloth swatch technique can be questioned if we consider the results obtained by R.E. Nicolai et al., 1997 (in the same conference).

Development of a Low Cost Biofilter for Swine Production Facilities

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This type of biofilter is very interesting, simple, effective and economical (0,28 US$ per piglet produced for construction and operation costs considering a facility of 700 sow that produces weaned piglets). More design and operation information is needed and further research will try to determine:
– the relationship of the pressure differential vs. the air flow for various depths and biofilter material;
– the minimum exhaust air contact time to the filter medium required to obtain adequate odor reduction for various livestock species;
– practical dust removal techniques for the exhaust air to prevent biofilter clogging;
– practical moisture application system for the biofilter and the proper management of this system to apply and control moisture in the filter bed.

See Zeisig and Munchen, 1988

A protocol for odour impact assessment

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An effective odour regulatory strategy meets other requirements then the current nuisance laws based on complaint or definition of public nuisance and other regulation based on threshold measurements present. Odour Impact Model (OIM) is of interest because many parameters are considered including the impact of odours on the community. The impact of odours is judged on an emission base quantitatively (quantity and area affected using a mathematical model) and also qualitatively (degree of annoyance).

Very interesting in the review of current laws and regulations and their limits are presented. Shows the need for the development of regulations that gives a clear definition of the problem, gives and defines ways of measuring and addressing the odour problem (that are reproducible, low cost and effective) and consider the capacity (economical and technical) of the industry to control their emissions.

Agricultural Change and Impacts on Rural Culture.

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The change agriculture has been experiencing through technological development in the last century are presented. The first wave started with the mechanization and the introduction of internal combustion engine and wheel tractor between 1890 and 1945. These changes allowed producers to operate more acres and consolidation occurred. The second wave, from 1945 to 1980 came with the petro-chemical revolution and the introduction of chemical fertilizers and the development of equipment of larger capacity contributing to the increasing dependency of agriculture upon fossil fuels and purchased inputs. The emergence of the third wave just started with the bio-genetic revolution. The fourth revolution will rely on information and upon computers and telecommunication technologies. As a result of those technological changes, important changes in the structure of agriculture and rural culture happened also. The decline of the farm number, the increasing farm size through consolidation and the concentration of the production are examples of those changes. Rural communities have changed and abandoned farmsteads, boarded up schools, churches and small business are in some cases the new reality. Many farm dependent communities did not have the choice than to rely on other bases for their economies and in some cases tourism, recreation, or manufacturing have been develop to compensate for the outmigration and diminishing opportunities in farming. As a result, agriculture illiteracy increases and consumers forget or don’t get the chance to understand farming and food systems and farmers have on their side to understand more the consumers. Some rural communities have become bedroom communities because of their proximity from urban areas. These trends (new communities economical activities and bedroom communities) contribute to increasing rural diversity and result in great variation within the communities. New values are introduced to the communities including beliefs about rural life and quality of life importance and also different aspects about land use, zoning, environmental protection, rural services, priorities about community development and taxes. Cultural changes also occur even in farming communities where less time is devoted to volunteer activities, participation in community life and activities and interaction with neighbors for visits and help. As a result and it has been observed in research, neighbors that don’t know each other, won’t trust each other and eventually work together. Encouraging more interactions among residents of rural communities seems to be one element of the solution for the controversy emerging from livestock expansion.
This article is very interesting and effective in presenting the changes in the rural communities as a result of the important changes in the agriculture

Solepur : A Soil Treatment Process for Pig Slurry with Subsequent Denitrification of Drainage Water

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The soil purification capacity for treating pig slurry was evaluated over five years using a hydrologically isolated field treatment plant , the so-called a