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Industry Partners
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:
Impact of Diet on Odor
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments
Although odors have always been associated with animal production, only within the last decade has the interest to control them resulted in extensive research. Because odors are difficult to measure, this research has not achieved much more than suggestions as to what may work. What is known is that odors are predominantly the result of anaerobic fermentation of feed waste, indigested feed, and secretions by the animal. Although sulfur compounds are extremely malodorous and of concern for health, their role in odor sensation is controversial. Phenolics such as skatole and indole and volatile fatty acids are typically the compounds most highly correlated with odor sensation. Ammonia is derived from cleavage of urinary urea by fecal/bacterial urease. Ammonia is of health and environmental concern and should be reduced for those reasons. However, its correlation with odor sensation is mediocre and strategies effective at reducing ammonia may not positively affect odor.
Feed waste is a major contributor to waste carbohydrates and may be a substantial source of volatile fatty acids and methane. Thus, care should be taken to minimize feed waste, especially because this is also attractive economically. Non-starch polysaccharides in the feed are poorly utilized by non-ruminants and they will contribute to odor and methane production. For emission control, reducing non-starch polysaccharide intake may be important.
About half of the waste protein is from indigested feed, the remainder being from animal secretions. Selection of easily digestible feedstuffs can lower both the secretions by the animal and indigestible feed, the factor with the highest negative correlation with digestibility being the dietary fiber content. Thus, selecting feedstuffs with a low fiber content and thus a high digestibility, is preferred. Alternatively, fibers can be degraded using fiber-degrading enzymes such as xylanases. Low-protein feeds also have been shown to reduce both odor and ammonia emission without compromising animal performance.
An indirect method for reducing odorants is through manipulation of the microflora in both the intestines and in the waste. pH is a very important modifier, and lowering pH is suggested to be beneficial for reducing odor and ammonia emission. Microbial populations in the gut can also be manipulated using dietary fiber and pre, pro, and antibiotics. Although several experiments have demonstrated effective strategies for reducing odor through this mechanism, including the use of high fiber diets, our understanding of how to manipulate the microflora is still rudimentary.
Because odor production starts with the feed it is important that feed formulators start taking into consideration the impact of feed composition on waste production and odor. Options include formulating for lower crude protein contents, reducing dietary fiber, reducing excreta pH, and using compounds such as enzymes that improve digestibility.
Hydrogen Sulfide Assessment in Shallow–Pit Swine Housing and Outside Manure Storage
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Ontario Modifies Nutrient Management Plan
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After all the information sessions and public consultation meetings were held across Ontario, the following changes regarding the implementation of the regulations under the Nutrient Management Act are:
– Making July 1, 2003 the implementation date of the proposed regulations for all livestock farms and those expanding into and within the large category.
– Making 2005 the implementation date for existing large livestock farms
– Tying the implementation dates of any further regulations, other than the new and expanding livestock farms, to the availability of cost-shared funding
– A protocol would be established whereby the ministry of the environment would have the ultimate authority to ensure compliance with the regulations through investigations and enforcement
– The ministry of Agriculture and Food would be the first point of contact for on-farm nutrient management issues, including monitoring.
– Setting up a provincial advisory committee that would provide recommendations to the government regarding nutrient management issues. It would include farmers, environmental scientists, municipal representative and others.
– Some of the issues that would be referred to this committee for further examination are:
– When the proposed regulations would apply to all types of farms except new livestock farms, large livestock farms and those expanding into the large livestock farm category
– Restrictions regarding the siting and construction of nutrient storage as well as manure handling and application near municipal wells
– Seasonal outdoor feeding area standards
– Manure storage issues for existing operations
– Decommissioning of manure storages
– Nutrient application on tile-drained land
– Nutrient application on shallow soils
– Odour-related setback and standards
– Winter spreading restrictions for nutrients from the pulp and paper sector
Composting Hog Manure – Is it Right for Your Farm?
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The concern of farm odor is forcing the industry to look at alternative methods of manure handling. Composting, while not completely odor free, is a good alternative. This provides soils with rich nutrients that chemical fertilizers cannot. In Biotech shelters, it is essential to mix the contents collected in order to obtain a thorough distribution of nutrients. Separation of manure using mechanical or chemical means or a combination of the two is necessary in liquid manure systems.
Decomposition is the process of the breaking down of organic material (when conditions are right – preferably warmer) by microbial organisms. Four key factors in decomposition include nutrient balance, moisture content, temperature, and aeration.
Proper composting requires proper equipment. This equipment must be able to prepare the site of composting. The improper sizing of compost turner equipment to perform the function can result in higher cost per ton of finished compost. Good compost sites must have adequate drainage and be a sufficient distance from areas of concern (such as towns, schools, etc.).
Soil Mixing to Decrease Surface Stratification of Phosphorus in Manured Soils
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THE IMPACT OF SWINE PRODUCTION ON LAND VALUES IN ILLINOIS
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Effect of social group size on aggressive behaviour of grower-finisher pigs in fully slatted-floor rearing system
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The impact of large group size on social behaviour of pigs is poorly understood. A study was conducted to assess the social aggression of grower-finisher pigs in large groups. Pigs with large social group experience displayed behaviour compared to those living in small social groups.
Group Housing: Alternative Systems, Alternative Management
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The type of group housing for sows should be selected based on the overall target of the herd. Three options exist for feed control: average feed intake for all sows, equal intake for all individuals, and different amounts to different animals. Floor feeding, the most basic form of group housing, has issues with aggression and can only really see an appropriate average intake. These problems can be reduced (but not eliminated) by increasing space allowance and putting skinny sows into separate groups. A trickle system can provide a relatively even distribution of feed. Sows enter small individual stalls while feed is trickled down at an appropriate rate. Individual confinement is the only way to control individual feed intake. This is possible with stalls that lock the sow in and electronically controlled gates to allow different groups access to the feeding stalls at different times of the day. Electronic sow feeders are an alternative that electronically monitors how much a sow eats in a feeding area. This amount is reset daily, which allows for a daily allotment of feed for each sow. Social management of sows considers frequency of regrouping, sorting, and group size. A static group of sows are grouped once and only once during gestation while a dynamic group adds new animals on several occasions. Dynamic grouping could be detrimental to the sows welfare and productivity. One of the main benefits of group housing is the ability of the sow to manage its own comfort. Fairly rapid estrus detection can be achieved by bringing a boar to a pen adjacent to the group for a short period each day. If several animals need breeding they can be penned in stalls for a short time. Research done at the Prairie Swine Centre show that there was only a 2% difference in productivity between a static group, dynamic group, and conventional gestation stalls.