Impact of Manure on Water Quality Under Continous-Corn and Corn-Soybean Rotation

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The results indicated that altrernative cropping systems like strip cropping alfalfa resulted in the lowest NO3-N concentrations (< 9mg/L) in the shallow groundwater in comparison to manure and other N treatments. Also, continous corn plots receiving, swine manure applications resulted in significantly higher NO3-N concentrations in subsurface drain water although, the use of the swine manure corn-soybean rotation has the potential to reduce negative water quality impacts significantly. Rotation plots showed over time a more consistent NO3-N concentration when compared to continous cropped corn, concentration ranged from 9 -13 mg/l for liquid fertilizer plots and 9 - 15 mg/l for manured plots. Concentrations for the rotated plots were lower than for conrinous corn because fertilzer and swine manure wqas applied every second year. This study shows that high manure application rates canb result in high NO3-N concentrations in drainage water, aslso high drainage volume resulted in greater NO3-N losses with continous corn than rotation practices. This shows precipitation is a major factor in nitrogen leaching losses to shallow groundwater.

A Comparison of Three Balance Methods for Calculating Ventilation Rates in Livestock Buildings

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Three methods for the calculation of the ventilation rate in Northern European livestock buildings were compared on the basis of the balances of animal heat, moisture and carbon dioxide for fattening pigs, dairy cattle and laying hens. The analyses were made on data sets from a collaborative project using literature values for the rates of production of heat, moisture and carbon dioxide. For heat and moisture production, it was found that the balance equations could be improved by including a correction for evaporation of water from fresh food, faeces and urine in livestock buildings, and by adjustment of the equations for partitioning total heat into sensible and latent heat for pigs and poultry. The correction, which is valid for climatic regions and production schemes that exist in Northern Europe, was calculated for each building in such a way that the heat and moisture balances
gave the same ventilation rate. The three methods gave reliable results on a 24 h basis, except when there were small hourly diA

Salmonella Elimination during Composting of Spent Pig Litter

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Noise and Swine Facilities French Version

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The Way Pigs Eat

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Feeder design improvements in the past 15 years have had a significant impact on pig behaviour, says Dr. Harold Gonyou, research scientist in ethology at the Prairie Swine Centre Inc. Todaya

Welfare considerations when attaching animals to vehicles.

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A note on the effect of control of the thermal environment on the well-being of growing pigs.

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Light intensity preferences of domestic male turkeys.

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Comparison of Biofilter Residence Time

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Residence time is a crictical factor in determining the size of an open face biofilter. Four test biofilters were contrusted with media comprised of yard waste compost and brush chips to compare 8s. and 4s. residence time. Biofilter performance was monitored for ten months by measuring pressure drop, moisture content, odour threshold, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia concentrations. Odour reduction efficiency for the 8 and 4 second residence time biofilters is 91% and 87% respectively. Hydrogen sulfide reduction efficiency is 97% and 96%. Ammonia reduction efficiency id 82% and 74%. There is no significant difference between 8 and 4 seconds empty bed contact time for odour, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia removal. Based on current information, the design residence time for biofilters on swine buildings is 4 to 5 seconds.

Swine Manure as a Nitrogen Fertilizer for Improving Ghrain Yield and Protein Concentration of Spring Wheat

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In the fall of 1994 three application methods were studied to examine the impact of swine manure on Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat protein and yield. The three alternatives included a control, ripped and 8,000 gal/acre of swine manure. The addition of the swine manure significantly increased grain yield and protein content. Grain yield varied from 2.08 t/ha for the control and 3.33 t/ha for the manure application and 11.3% and 16.4% protein respectively. Manure applied at a rate of 8,00 gal/acre had a significant effect on yield and protien when compared against the control, with the most pronounced effects in soils that have inherently nitrogen supplying power.