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 January 1, 2007 | 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.

Comparison of Management Factors Affecting Aggression in Group Housed Sows

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Group housing of sows during gestation involves some degree of aggression when the groups are formed. Although short-lived, this aggression results in scratches to the animals and may affect the farrowing rate. The objectives of this study were to reduce the level of aggression among sows re-grouped within a few days of breeding, using five experimental social treatments. The Familiar treatment appears to have the most potential for reducing aggression. The relatively short fights among familiar sows probably represents reinforcement of social position rather than the establishment of a new hierarchy. The Dominant treatment, which involved the presence of three older animals from a well-established social order, tended to have fewer aggressive events, particularly on the 1st day of group formation. The Exposed treatment, in which the sows had spent 48 hrs together after weaning, but before being stalled for breeding, did reduce the level of injuries, but did not reduce the incidence of aggression compared to the Control group except on the first day. This study also confirmed that providing protective stalling during re-grouping was ineffective on the aggression and the injuries among re-grouped sows.

SANTÉ HUMAINE

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L’ENVIRONNEMENT INTÉRIEUR DES BÂTIMENTS D’ÉLEVAGE
La majeure partie de la recherche dans le domaine de la santé a fait le focus sur les changements sur le
système respiratoire des travailleurs qui oeuvrent dans les bâtiments d’élevage confinés. Des problèmes
de santé humaine sont courants chez les travailleurs en porcherie ou en poulailler mais n’ont pas été
directement identifiés dans la plupart des situations avec le fait que l’élevage confiné est intensif
(Donham et al. 1977, 1982, 1984; Olson et al. 1996; Pickerell 1991). Lorsque les animaux sont élevés
dans des bâtiments fermés avec leurs aliments et leurs déjections, des risques pour la qualité de l’air sont
créés. Ces risques ne sont pas retrouvés dans d’autres types d’installations de production ouvertes. Les
substances qui sont le plus couramment associées avec la qualité de l’air à l’intérieur de bâtiments
d’élevage confinés et qui sont dommageables pour la santé respiratoire des travailleurs sont : les
poussières, les endotoxines et les gaz. L’environnement intérieur de chaque bâtiment confiné a son
mélange de poussières et de gaz particuliers. La concentration des poussières et des gaz dépendra du type
d’animaux confinés, du style de construction du bâtiment, du système de ventilation, du type d’aliment,
des méthodes de gestion du fumier/lisier, de la manière dont le bâtiment est nettoyé, de la fréquence avec
laquelle le bâtiment est nettoyé et de la saison dans l’année.
La santé respiratoire des travailleurs dans les porcheries est étroitement liée à leur exposition aux
particules en suspension. Ces particules sont composées de poussières organiques, de gaz et
d’endotoxines et celles-ci sont présentes dans les bâtiments d’élevage confinés en plus grandes quantités
qu’à l’extérieur dans l’environnement de ces installations (Attwood et al. 1986; Cormier et al. 1991).
Donham (1986) a caractérisé les aérosols présents dans les porcheries confinées comme étant constitués
de particules d’aliments, de protéines provenant des urines, de pellicules, de fèces, de moississures, de
pollen et de parties d’insectes. L’augmentation des concentrations des particules en suspension dans l’air
est considérée comme étant à l’origine des maladies respiratoires qui se développent chez les travailleurs
en porcherie (Pickerell, 1990). Les particules ayant un diamètre de moins de 5 mm sont considérées
respirables et capables de pénétrer dans les poumons, les particules de 5 à 10 mm se rendent plus
profondément dans les voies respiratoires, et les particules de plus de 10 mm sont déposées dans les voies
nasales et la gorge. Les particules de moins de 5 mm se déposent lentement et n’ont besoin que de très
peu de mouvement d’air pour devenir en suspension. Le mouvement d’air constant dans les bâtiments
d’élevage confinés a tendance à maintenir en suspension les petites particules tandis que les plus grosses
se déposent, ce qui augmente les risques respiratoires pour les travailleurs.
Comme les particules en suspension, des gaz sont aussi produits dans les porcheries. Les gaz les plus
souvent retrouvés dans les bâtiments d’élevage sont le NH3, le H2S, et le CO2. Plusieurs études ont
regardé l’impact de ces gaz retrouvés en porcherie sur la santé humaine (Gerber et al. 1991; Kangas et al.
1987). Le NH3 est relâché par l’action qu’ont les bactéries sur l’urine et les fèces qui sont sur les
planchers et dans les dalots des bâtiments d’élevage. Le NH3 a une affinité avec l’eau et il affecte toutes
les surfaces humides avec lesquelles il entre en contact comme les yeux, le nez et la gorge et cause de
l’irritation.
Le H2S est produit en conditions de dégradation anaérobique du fumier/lisier, ce qui implique que le lisier
doit être entreposé pour au moins quelques jours. Il y a normalement très peu de H2S dans les bâtiments
d’élevage mais si le lisier est agité, le H2S est rapidement relâché par le lisier et peut même atteindre des
niveaux nocifs pour la vie en quelques minutes. À de bas niveaux, ce gaz a une odeur d’oeufs pourris,
mais à des niveaux plus élevés, le gaz neutralise l’odorat et une personne exposée ne peut plus détecter la
situation dangeureuse. À plus de 400 ppm, le H2S peut causer la mort.
La source majeure de CO2 dans les bâtiments d’élevage est la respiration des animaux. Des problèmes
avec le CO2 peuvent survenir lorsque la ventilation ou la source de puissance vient à manquer, que le gaz
s’accumule durant une certaine période de temps et que la concentration en oxygène dans l’air diminue.
Des signes avant coureur apparaissent alors comme de la fatigue, des maux de tête, de la nausée et une
réduction des habilités mentales.

Macronutrient digestibility in Kadon pigs fed diets with isonitrogenous amounts of various carbohydrate sources

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The behaviour, welfare, growth performance and meat quality of pigs housed in a deep-litter, large group housing system compared to a conventional confinement system

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Deep-litter, large group systems have been developed as an alternative housing system for growing pigs. These systems are cheaper to establish and are perceived as being more welfare friendly for pigs, compared to conventional housing systems. Deep-litter, large group systems offer more pen space per pig (approximately 1 m² per pig), larger group sizes (ranging from 150 to 2000 pigs per pen), an enriched environment, (an environment which provides an outlet for rooting and foraging in deep bedding), together with the opportunity for increased social interaction among pigs (Morrison et al., 2003a,b). Conventionally, pigs are housed in more confined systems with fully, or partially slatted floors, liquid effluent system, group sizes ranging from 5 to 50 pigs with a floor space allowance of approximately 0.7 m² per pig. Anecdotal evidence suggests that pigs raised in deep-litter, large group systems are less fearful of humans and novel objects and are easier to handle when transporting. It is difficult to compare housing systems since they are often confounded by factors such as pen space, group size, environment and substrate provision. The scientific literature is deficient in information on the relationships between these factors and pig behaviour in large multi-factorial experiments. The aim of this experiment was to compare the behaviour, welfare, growth performance, and meat quality of pigs in a deep-litter, large group housing system compared to a conventional housing system. Castrated males were housed from 9 weeks of age in a conventional housing (15 pigs/pen; 1.0 m²/pig) or deep-litter, large group housing system (90 pigs/pen; 1.7 m²/pig). Behavioural observations and stress physiology measurements were conducted at 9, 17 and 22 weeks of age. The willingness of the pigs to approach a novel object was assessed using a standard novel object test at 22 weeks of age. Pigs in the deep-litter, group-housing system spent more time standing, locomoting, and interacting with their environment compared with contemporaries housed in the conventional system. At 17 weeks but not at 9 or 22 weeks, pigs in the conventional housing engaged in more social interactions than deep-litter housed pigs. Salivary cortisol was higher in deep-litter pigs compared to conventional pigs at 9 weeks of age but was similar at 17 and 22 weeks of age. Pigs in the deep-litter, large group system exhibited more exploratory behaviour compared to conventionally raised pigs in the novel test. Loins from pigs housed in the deep-litter, large group treatment had lower loin pH, more purge loss, more glucose in purge and were lighter in subjective colour than loins from conventionally housed pigs. A trained sensory panel detected no differences in tenderness, juiciness or overall desirability of loins from deep-litter or conventionally housed pigs. In this experiment, the housing system modified pig behaviour, fearfulness and stress physiology (at 9 weeks of age) but these differences did not negatively impact meat quality.

30 pigs/sow/year – Impacts on the Sow

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Since the early 1990s, the application of genetic selection for litter size has led to an increase of up to 3.5 pigs per litter at dam line nucleus level, with the largest improvements shown in the French and Danish breeding programs. This has translated into the potential for a total litter size born of 15 or more piglets, providing the possibility for commercial producers to wean more than 30 pigs/sow/year (psy). However, there are a number of disturbing negative aspects of the rush towards increased sow productivity, which have implications for the sow and also her progeny’s health, growth, efficiency and carcass quality. Foxcroft (2007) described the phenomenon of pre-natal programming, and suggested that the large increase in ovulation rate in modern, higher parity, sows leads to uterine crowding, intra-uterine growth retardation in the embryo and foetus and a reduction in muscle fibre numbers. In practice, this leads to a number of problems, including lower immune status (Harding et al., 2006), and slower growth and poorer carcass quality in pigs from litters with a low average birthweight (Foxcroft et al., 2007). The other negative change that has taken place is that sow death rates have gone up significantly, especially in North America (Peet, 2005b). While the reasons are complex, there seems no doubt that the greater nutritional and physical strain on the sow as a result of the increased productivity is a major factor. Also, the decrease in gilt and sow backfat levels as a result of selective breeding for leaner, fast growing and efficient pigs, means that they have less tolerance to deficiencies in management, environment and nutrition. Lean animals are more prone to physical injury, which may lead to culling. Another factor is the intensification of production systems leading to harsher conditions, which are more likely to lead to injury, combined with a lack of suitable hospital facilities to deal with sick, injured or disadvantaged gilts and sows. The focus of management should be to nurture the gilt and second parity sow so that she reaches the highly productive 3-6 parity stage, thereby increasing average sow longevity. Foxcroft et al. (2007) reviewed information indicating that when high numbers of developing embryos implant in the uterus early in gestation (up to day 30), those that survive to term develop into compromised pigs with reduced growth potential. Piglets from litters with low average birthweight are all compromised, regardless of their relative birthweight within that litter. There are two aspects of dealing with this situation in respect to the gilt and sow. The first is to improve the nutritional status of the female in order to increase the nutrient supply to the developing embryos. The second is to improve the size and quality of the follicles released in order to reduce the “pre-natal programming” effect. Both of these will help to improve the quality of the piglet born and its growth potential. Herds with very high litter size tend to have a disproportionately high number of stillborn piglets, which is likely due to a lack of thriftiness caused by pre-natal influences. Therefore, close monitoring of farrowing, and management measures to reduce stillbirths, have become essential in herds with high numbers born. This will also lead to a reduction in post-farrowing piglet deaths by increasing piglet viability. Also, measures to increase survival, such as drying piglets off after birth, assisting them to suckle and placing them under a heat source, will be especially helpful to low birthweight litters. There is a wide range of nutritional and management strategies that can be used to counteract these potential problems. However, further work is required to understand the implications of higher litter size for management systems after weaning and the comparative economics of managing pigs based on their average litter birthweight or according to individual body weight.

Competitiveness In The Canadian Pork Segment: A Reassessment

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A reassessment of the development of issues facing the competitiveness of the Canadian pork industry is presented in this paper. Natural factors such as grains are present. An example of this is Iowa corn in the USA has a far larger yield than Alberta barley, and Canadian grain prices are increasing. The result of such combined factors is that Canada has become a high-cost feeding region in comparison to the USA. Labour is also discussed in the respect of wages being far too high from the influence of the Alberta oil industry (~ $17.00), as well as Manitoba and Ontario (~ $12 to $13.00) being still higher than Midwest USA (~ $10 to $11.00). Labour shortage is brought on by the aging workforce and less youth enrolling in agriculture related careers, and the inability to compete with other industry sectors (primarily in Western Canada, but across Canada as well). This is resulting in farm operators working ridiculous hours (80 to 90 per week), which will eventually lead to cutbacks in production in order to reduce stress. Lack of labour is also significantly impacting the Canadian pork packing industry due to the fact that worker shortage has forced some big name packers such as Olymel and Maple Leaf Foods to discontinue or even be unable to begin a second slaughter shift. This results in an immense loss of revenue in the hog industry. Larger packer plant size in the USA results in cheaper cost of slaughter per head. Canada packing plants see roughly $5.00 more per hog than USA due to the smaller plant size and the lack of a double shift. This entire paper goes into much more detail as to how the hog industry from producer to packer has undergone changes that impact economics, exports, and competitiveness.

Oral vaccination against classical swine fever with a chimeric Pestivirus: comparative investigations of liquid and lyophilized virus

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Large-Group Housing: A Survey of Canadian Pork Producers

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Large-group housing of grower and finisher pigs has had a tremendous growth in popularity in recent years due primarily to increases in herd size, available automation in sorting and positive producer experiences with increasing group size. Yet, North American producers have had mixed reactions to both large-group housing and auto-sorting. This survey was conducted by the VIDO Swine Technical Group (VSTG) to synthesise the expertise and experiences of producers using the LGH system. The VSTG is a voluntary group of producer industry representatives and Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization staff. Its mandate is to develop a multidisciplinary approach to common production issues and conduct knowledge transfer activities. The survey was conducted between September and November of 2006. LGH barns in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta were targeted with mailed-out surveys, and responses were received from 120 barns representing more than 187,000 pig finishing spaces. The survey addressed issues such as training, animal health and welfare, performance, equipment and facilities and economics. The results were compiled by VIDO staff and analyzed by the VIDO Swine Technical Group members. Respondents indicated that problems with the auto-sort system could be as simple as incorrect scale settings, power failures or airline leaks. Success in managing the auto-sorter as a tool will dictate the success in not only weighing and sorting pigs, but in maintaining performance throughout the growing period. The greatest potential negative impact of the LGH/auto-sort system (LGAS) system was to restrict feed when feed was used as the lure to get animals through the auto-sorter. When this is done, it requires that all other factors optimizing feed intake (such as feeder space per animal being increased, feeder type, daily maintenance, reducing ‘out of feed’ events due to plugged feeders, feeder location and spacing) need to be optimized. In general there were fewer problems when pigs were trained to gradually use the sorter, when feed court size was optimized and feeder space was increased. Most respondents did not notice a significant difference in operating costs. More than 80 per cent of respondents would install a large-group housing system in the future.

Making Pork from Feed

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The pork category continues to expand worldwide. Many inputs influence the business of pork, but certainly feed or nutrients have a large influence. Nutrients provide a cornerstone in supporting efficient pork production. Proven processes are critical to match nutrient demands of pigs with nutrient supplies from ingredients. Traditionally, locally grown grains were mixed and fed to pigs by land-based pork producers so as to create and capture more value. Today, the focus has shifted from feed to nutrients, from swine to pork and from cost to value. The key lies in aligning the nutrient demands of the pig’s metabolism to the nutrient supplies from ingredients, so as to create more customer value for today’s measures of pork production. From 1998-2005 overall pork output kept pace with total meat growth of 18%, growing 16% respectively in metric tons. Pork consumption per capita remained strong at 15.6 kg in 2003, second only to seafood consumption at 16.1 kg. Cost of production was estimated at $ 1.18 per kg across 13 countries in 2006. Low cost of production depends upon rigorous production standards of sow productivity, pig growth efficiency and herd livability. Cost control remains a key measure to long-term competitiveness, although continued focus on creating value through unique pork products is growing. New standards have been placed on production firms in the interest to differentiate the pork produced. The key is to ensure these requirements align to deliver long-term customer value, so that a region’s competitiveness remains viable to produce pork. Traditional supply-side production models are being adjusted to address emerging demand-side requirements. Tomorrow’s standard will involve specialized streams of pigs produced to demanding customer requirements with limited variation. This contrasts the traditional commodity pork of the past. With this change, effective marketing and branding will become even more important to the business. The business of pork depends upon keen inputs. One such input, nutrients, remains central to efficient pork production. New discoveries and new applications will continue to deepen our understanding of nutrient demands, nutrient supplies and nutrient efficiency of the pig. These are exciting times for courageous and visionary leaders as they consider tomorrow’s pork production.