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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:
Development and validation of a method for simultaneous analysis of the boar taint compounds indole, skatole and androstenone in pig fat using liquid chromatography–multiple mass spectrometry
Posted in: Production by admin on January 1, 2007 | No Comments
The present paper describes the development of a methodology for rapid and effective simultaneous extraction of boar taint compounds from pig fat tissue. The applicability of a single LC–MSn method as a specific detection method for both indolic compounds and a steroidic compound was evaluated. The results showed that the simultaneous determination of ID, SK and AEON in back fat matrix was enabled combining minimised sample handling with a high specific mass spectrometric detection technique. However, as simultaneous analysis of structurally different indolic compounds and a steroid was assessed, future research will specifically address improvement of the extraction procedure.
The influence of manure composition on emissions of odour and ammonia from finishing pigs fed different concentrations of dietary crude protein
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Intensive pig production leads to the production of environmental contaminants. These contaminants include organic nitrogen outputs and emissions of ammonia and odour. High rates of nitrogen loading, derived from both organic and gaseous sources, cause eutrophication of nitrogen sensitive ecosystems and acidification of water and soils (Pitcairn et al., 2002). Intensification of livestock production and an increasing urban influx and influence on rural areas has increased objections to odour emissions from pig units (Mackie et al., 1998) and concerns have been raised regarding the impact of odour emissions on human health and well being (Schiffman et al., 1995). It is pertinent, therefore, to employ methods of production that minimise the generation of these contaminants. Previous research has indicated that reducing the concentration of dietary crude protein decreases nitrogen excretion and the volatilisation of NH3 from manure (Canh et al., 1998a; Hayes et al., 2004; Leek et al., 2005). Volatile fatty acids (VFA) in manure reflect bacterial activity and cause a decrease in manure pH that may be helpful in controlling ammonia volatilisation (Canh et al., 1998b). It is reported that the concentration of manure VFA decreases as the concentration of dietary crude protein is reduced (Shriver et al., 2003). Thus, it is necessary to assess whether such an effect on the concentration of manure VFAs, associated with changes in the dietary crude protein concentration, may influence the ammonia emission response. The production of the most pungent and greatest variety of obnoxious smelling compounds emanating from pig production has been attributed to fermentation of nitrogenous material (Hobbs et al., 1997). Fermentation of dietary carbohydrate may also contribute to the formation of odourous metabolites (Hobbs et al., 1996; Miller and Varel, 2003). An investigation was conducted into the influence of manure composition on the odour emission rate (OER) and the emission rate of ammonia (NH3), when diets containing 130, 160, 190 and 210 g kgˉ¹ crude protein (CP) were fed to finishing pigs. A group of four boars and four gilts, housed in environmentally sealed pens, were assigned to each diet for a 23-day experimental period which was replicated three times. Ventilation air from each pen was sampled for NH3 and odour, by olfactometry, on four days during the trial period. Simultaneous collections of manure were taken from the surface and base of each pit. The pH and the concentrations of dry matter, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) and volatile fatty acids in the manure were measured. Manure composition differed between samples from the surface and base of the pit. Reducing dietary CP concentration decreased the emission of NH3. The acetic acid:propionic acid ratio in manure samples was correlated to OER. There was a quadratic relationship between dietary CP concentration and OER. OER decreased between 210 g kgˉ¹ and 160 g kgˉ¹ CP and increased between 160 g kgˉ¹ and 130 g kgˉ¹ CP. In conclusion, reducing dietary crude protein levels could be used effectively to reduce ammonia emissions and OER, although no significant advantage was to be gained in OER from reducing crude protein level below 160 g kgˉ¹.
VSEP installation treats pig manure in Europe
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
The vibratory membrane separation system (VSEP), developed and manufactured by New Logic Research
Incorporated of Emeryville, California, USA, is being used for the first time in Europe to treat anaerobically digested pig manure.
Simulation of the effect of windbreaks on odour dispersion
Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments
Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models are capable of defining best management
practices associated with the wide use of natural windbreaks to help disperse livestock
odours. It was found that a tall and dense natural windbreak, located no more than 15m
downwind from the odour source, minimises the length of the odour plume, but increases
the intensity of the odour level immediately downwind from its position.
Effectiveness of a Manure Scraper System for Reducing Concentrations of Hyrdrogen Sulphide and Ammonia in Swine Grower-Finisher Room
Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a potentially hazardous gas that has been shown to reach elevated levels in swine barns, thus potentially posing a threat to the health and safety of workers and animals. Saskatchewan Labour (1996) stipulates that worker exposure to H2S should not exceed an 8 h time-weighted average of 10 ppm, or a 15 min TWA of 15 ppm. The immediately dangerous to health and life level for H2S is 100 ppm; at this level, olfactory detection is generally desensitized; thus, an exposed individual may not be able to distinguish higher concentrations based on intensity of smell alone. Chénard et al. (2003) found that swine barn workers were at risk of H2S exposure while performing manure management tasks that result in manure agitation, such as pulling pit-drain plugs to clear manure out of under-floor manure channels in swine production rooms. Hydrogen sulfide gas is created by anaerobic degradation of manure (Arogo et al., 2000). Long storage times of manure inside barns can contribute to the anaerobic degradation process, and consequently, to increased risk of generating potentially hazardous levels of H2S when manure is agitated during clear out. A potential method to reduce the production and eventual release of H2S and other manure gases is to remove the manure from the room on a more frequent basis. Voermans and van Poppel (1993) studied six scraper systems designed for swine barns, with and without separate discharge for urine, and found an overall reduction in ammonia (NH3) emissions. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of daily operation of a manure scraper system for reducing the risk of H2S exposure of swine barn workers and animals during in-barn manure handling activities. The effectiveness of a manure scraper system for reducing the risk of barn worker and animal exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was evaluated by comparing gas levels in two swine production rooms, one with a manure scraper system installed (scraper) and the other with a conventional manure pit-plug system (control). Measurements were done over four production cycles; during each 12-week cycle, gas concentrations were measured 4 to 5 times during weeks that conventional manure removal activities were performed in the control room, while the scraper system was operated daily in the scraper room. Daily removal of manure from the scraper room resulted in measured maximum H2S concentrations that were significantly lower (by 90%) compared to the control room. The type of manure removal system had no significant effect on ammonia (NH3) concentration and emission; during each trial, NH3 emission increased in both rooms over the 4 to 5 monitored weeks. The scraper system was also operated in two different modes. These tests revealed that NH3 production was reduced when all the manure was removed from the room compared to leaving the liquid portion on the pit floor surface, although the differences were not significant. The estimated cost of including the scraper system in the construction and operation of a new barn is CDN$1.89 per pig sold, which is 35% less (on a per pig basis) than the cost of retrofitting an existing facility. The manure removal system tested was effective in reducing exposure of workers and animals to H2S, without significant adverse impact on NH3 production. However, given the highly variable nature of H2S production and dispersion within a room, care should always be taken when handling manure inside swine barns.