Effect of Manue Pit Additve on the Reduction of Ammonia Emission from Large Swine Finishing Buildings

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The effect of Alliance, a manure pit additive was tested in 4 commercial grow-finish barns for a period of 6 months. This ammednment produced an average 24.2% reduction in ammonia levels relative to the control. The treatments saw a range of 12.5 – 27.3% reduction in amonia concentration over both trials.. With the use of this pit amendment it was also noted the importance of keeping the floor as dry and clean as possible. Ammonia reduction rates were found to be greater in the second trial by approximately 10%, this difference may be realted to the season variation of gas emissions from swine buildings. There was evidence of dilution with the addition of the pit amendment. However, the addition of the pit additive did not affect th pH of the manure. As a result the lower concentration of ammonia in the traeted buildings may have contributed to the lower ammonia emissions.

Testing a Field-Scale Manure Composting System

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A in-vessel composter with forced aeration and mechanical turning was set up and evaluated at Ridgetown College, University of Guelph. During the first week, manure is added to a substrate (corn cobs, barley straw, wood chips, tree leaves, or any combination of the preceding) until a desirable mositure ocndition of 55% – 70% is achieved. The ratio, by weight of liquid manure to substrate was 2.4:1 to 6.9:1 for straw, and was lower fir wood fibre and corn cobs. Odour dterminationwas made on a subjective basis, using staff that worked in the building. The composting system and the method in which liquid manure was added to the system contributed to an environment where there was seldom any evidence of liquid manure odours.

Production and Emission of Odours and Gases from Ageing Pig Waste

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A National Cirriculum fo Addressing Livestock Environmental Issues

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Increasing contrvesy surrounding existing and proposed livestock operations is increasing in nature. A 1998 USDA survey of 35 states found 31 of these states are experiencing contraversy and 30 states have reported increased conflict and media attention. The National Cirriculum, funded by the USDA and EPA is designed to support producer certification and education programs designed to encourage sustainable livestock systems. A core cirriculum addressing environmental awareness, design and management options and regulatory compliance is related to four topics: 1) manure storage systems 2) land and nutrient management 3) air quality 4) alternative strategies and treatment technologies. The cirriculum will be reviewed with the pilot being tested regionally, and livestock industry information providers will access the core cirriculum through five regionally sponsored inservice programs. The three year project started in April 1999, with the focus on year 1 being the development of the cirriculum. The focus of year 2 will be the assesing and evaluating the pilot programs at 5 regional sites. The final year focuses on the training of potential information providers through regional training programs, with program completion coming in fall 2001.

Odour Prediction for Hog Operations Using Computer Dispersion Modelling

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Diurnal and Annual Variation of Odour Emission from Animal Houses: a Model Calculation for Fattening Pigs

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Odour emission from livestock buildings adjacent to residential areas may constitute an environmental
nuisance and dispersion models are of interest in the regulation of air pollutants. To apply dispersion models to odour emissions, the odour concentration and the volume #ow of the outlet air must be known. In this paper, the odour concentration of the outlet air is determined by combining a steady-state balance model to calculate the outlet air temperature and the volume #ow with a simple model for the odour release inside the livestock building. The results show a distinct diurnal and annual variation of the odour concentration due to the variability of the volume #ow. The mean odour concentration during daytime in the summer months lies in a very narrow range close to the overall minimum. Odour concentration derived from odour emission and the maximum volume #ow of the animal house is useful for model calculations. During a clear-sky summer period, the model predicts a nighttime odour concentration of about 4)6 times the daytime concentration due to the
reduced volume #ow at night. To improve the calculation of odour concentrations by dispersion models, the annual and diurnal variation of the odour release has to be taken into account. The model suggests that long-term measurements of the odour emissions of animal houses are necessary for regulatory and legal purposes.

Indicators of resource use and environmental impact for use in a decision aid for Danish livestock farmers

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Factors Determining Voluntary Feed Intake in Swine

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Factors that influence voluntary feed intake

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Environmental, social and immunological stressors affect voluntary intake of pigs. The DE content of feed appears to determine feed intake of grower-finisher pigs within limits. In poultry, factors other than dietary energy content predict feed intake and subsequent performance better.

Behavioral responses to handling and restraint in dehorned and polled cattle.

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