Controlling Odors from Swine Buildings

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2001 | No Comments

Odor from swine production facilities arises predominantly from manure decomposition. Other odor sources include dead animals, pesticide sprays and manure handling facilities. Each can be handled by appropriate control procedures. Usable odor measurements include odor intensity, which can be measured in the field with a Scentometer and odor frequency, which attempts to determine the % of time that an odor can be detected at a site.
Control methods include moisture reduction, covered manure storage tanks, the installations of sprays that scrub the odorous materials from the air and the installation of barriers that cause more complete mixing of odorous materials with odor-free air allowing dilution. The most effective means of reducing odor is initial site selection, areas that do not have close neighbours. There is a general relationship between the perception of odor nuisance, separation distance and the size of a swine production facility. For facilities of 1,000 or fewer animals, the incidence of odor complaints are greatly reduces beyond one-quarter mile and for larger facilities it is a half-mile.
The design and construction of the facility is another means of reducing odor as is operation and management of the facility.
Disposal techniques and timing should also be considered in odor control. This includes the timing and techniques used in manure application on fields. If further steps in odor control are needed then there are alternate waste treatment schemes available but they may be in the experimental stage or be costly. Examples of these techniques include aerobic manure treatment, anaerobic digesters, flexible lagoon covers, air scrubbing equipment and odor control chemicals, such as masking agents, odor counteractants, odor absorption and enzymatic products.

EVALUATION OF PERCENT FLOW CAPTURED BY A SMALL INa

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Quantification of odors and odorants from swine operations in North Carolina

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Analysis of Minor elements and Metals in Hog Manure by Field-portable near-infrared Spectrscopy: Results for the Textron/Case NH ProSpectra(TM) Spectrometer

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The overall purpose of this project was to develop a field protocol for testing two field-portable
near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometers as on-site, free-standing (not in-line), measurement
tools for nutrients in hog manure at the time of application of manure to agricultural land. This
project is a developmental step between the analysis of hog manure in the laboratory using
near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the deployment of NIR instruments in the manure
stream for real-time measurement of composition of manure during application to land. The
field-portable instruments included the Textron Systems Corp (USA)/Case NH (USA)
ProSpectraa

The effect of low light flux and nitrogen defficiency on the chemical composition of Spirulina sp. (Arthrospira) grown on digested pig waste

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Effect of Land Use on Methane Flux from Soil

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Pig effluent-P application can increase the risk of P transport: two case studies

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Commodity Requirements fo PSC Elstow Feed Mill

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A factsheet describing ingredients requirements, volumes and specifications for grains the feed mill at PSC Elstow Research Farm will be purchasing.

Big Sky Farms Annouces Contribution to Interpretive Centre

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Dealing with variability in the growout barn

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Variation has become an increasingly important topic within the pork industry. The need of packing plants to have uniform carcasses is important, but is difficult for producers to meet this need when dealing with normal livestock variability. Variability can be a blessing and a curse in the pork industry. In order to genetically select for desirable traits, variation is required. Environment also has an impact on the expression of genetic make up and overall performance that may be undesirable. Producers must be able to implement strategies to most effectively and efficiently deal with variability.
Two approaches commonly taken when dealing with variability are to manage the environment in such a way so as to minimize variability, or to manage the pig to minimize the impact of variability on net income. In other words, seek ways to minimize variability or ways to best manage existing variability.
Many attempts have been made to minimize the amount of variability and failed. Studies have shown that several common practises for improving uniformity do not actually work. For example, sorting upon entry to the nursery and restriction of feed intake. It seems the most practical strategy is to attempt to minimize the impact of existing variability. For example, time spent sorting pigs at marketing may produce a greater increase in net income than any other activity. This strategy has increased the average index on some farms by 4 points, a net value of $5.00/pig sold.
Variation is good for genetic selection, but can be very difficult in production, especially during the growout phase. The best strategy seems to be to minimize the impact of variation rather than attempting to change the amount of variation. Marketing strategies, separate sex housing and increased overall performance are likely to pay larger dividends than any other strategy to reduce variability. These benefits can be measured in dollars, not cents, per pig.