Poultry.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 1997 | No Comments

Balancing Heating Costs and Moisture Control

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When pigs are confined within an enclosed airspace, the heat and moisture that they produce will accumulate to unacceptable levels unless there is adequate ventilation of the room with fresh outside air. Ventilation rates in winter to remove heat can be very low. If ventilation is not provided, RH will rise and condensation will occur on building surfaces. To avoid moisture accumulation in cold weather, we need to add supplemental heat. The job of the building operator is to manage the building, the heaters and the ventilation system to optimize the animal environment and minimize heating and electricity costs.
The article uses a weanling room example to illustrate the above statements. An easy to read checklist for heating and moisture control is also included in the paper. Issues such as air leaks, insulation, controllers and temperature are discussed.

N2O Emission from Redox Controlled Aeraobic Treatment of Pig Slurry

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The experiments were done on a laboratory scale with small manure batches. Further research is needed to study the possibility of nitrous emissions from nitrification and better explain the difference observed between the results and emissions presented in the literature.

Nitrous Oxide Emissions During Nitrification and Denitrification of Pig Manure

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The objectives of the experiment was to measure the emissions of N2O during aerobic treatment and also to evaluate the parameters that maintain stable operation for aerobic treatment with the minimum ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions. Raw manure should be added constantly to help in the nitrification denitrification process and lower emissions of N2O. Diluted manure to 1,5% DM(dry matter) seems to be more stable that for higher DM. The experiment was done in laboratory (reactor 6 L). Real scale experiments would be needed to confirm those results.

Regulatory Control of Nitrogen Emissions in a Modified Deep Litter System

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More investigation has to be done to determine litter aeration rates, litter bed mixes to improve the composting process and try to find ways to lower N-emission as ammonia and particularly as nitrous oxide. Comparaison of this technique with more conventional one should also be done.

Dutch Policy for Low Emission Housing Systems

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One of the major objectives of Dutch Agricultural Ministry is the reduction of ammonia emissions. As a mean to achieve this objective, the Green Label Foundation was established by the farmers and government in order to develop low emission housing systems and promote emission reduction. Green Labels are issued from the Foundation to farmers that invest or wish to invest in low emission housing. An other role of the Foundation is to inform farmers of the emission factor allowed per animal categories and the available housing systems that can keep the emission lower than that factor. As announced in the Minister’s 1995 Policy Intention, new measures to reduce the ammonia emissions will be introduced in 1998 under the 1998 General Administrative Order. The farmers that have obtained a Green Label won’t have to take further ammonia reduction measures for the first fifteen years. The publication present the Green Label and also a survey of low emission housing systems.

Impact des bols et des trA

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The impact of the use of water bowls and wet/dry feeders on the volume of manure produced has been verified in 15 farms: 5 farms equipped with nipple drinkers (to compare), 5 others equipped with bowl drinkers and the last 5 equipped with wet/dry feeders. The results showed that a reduction of 34% in the volume of manure produced could be obtained with the use of wet/dry feeders compared to nipple drinkers and for the water bowls, this reduction varied from 30 to 40%. An analysis of the results showed that the differences between the bowls and the wet/dry feeders are no statistically significant. The volume capacity of manure storage facilities for farms equipped with bowls and wet/dry feeders could be reduced by 35% compared with a farm equipped with nipple drinker.

The results show no real difference between wet/dry feeders and water bowls in the total volume of manure produced. Means to reduce water wastage have to be considered as the excess manure produced has to be stored and subsequently spread. The extra water coming from spillage contribute only in more dilution of the nutrients in the manure.

A Guide to Pipeline Manure Injection Systems

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Pipeline injection systems for hog manure make efficient use of the nutrients present in the manure and minimize odour problems. However, they are costly to install. The level of investment varies with the size and complexity of the system. The reductions of transportation costs, road damages and risks for soil compaction associated with slurry wagon have to be considered in the economic evaluation of pipeline systems. Different pipeline systems are discussed as well as injection / application tools and incorporation equipements. An exemple is also given to help sizing systems. Tips are also given to evaluate whether it is better to buy or hire to do manure application with pipeline manure injection systems.

Body Composition and Protein and Fat Accretion in Various Body Components in Growing Gilts Fed Diets with Different Protein Levels but Estimated to Contain Similar Levels of Ideal Protein

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The effects of different dietary protein levels were measured with a comparative slaughter technique. Body composition and protein and fat excretion were measured in various body component in Yorkshire gilts. Eight gilts were slaughter at 20 kg at the beginning of the experiment to determine the initial body composition. 3 groups of 24 gilts were assigned different diets for the growth period 20 to 55 kg ( one group fed on a 16.6 % crude protein (CP), and the 2 others 15.0 and 13.0% CP respectively). 8 gilts from each group were slaughter at this time (55 kg) to verify body composition. For the finishing period, the CP was reduced by approximately 2% on each diet and the remaining gilts were slaughter at 100 kg. The CP levels did not affect the carcass retail cuts, except for smaller trimmed ham for the gilts fed 13% and 11% CP diets. For the same group of gilts, the fat content of the empty body and in the carcass was the highest and the water accretion was the lowest. No effect of the level of crude protein could be observed for the chemical body composition, the protein and fat accretion rates, and the estimated lean yields.

This experiment verified the effect on different crude protein concentration on the body composition of gilts. The results showed that difference noticed for the lowest crude protein diet (13% crude protein in the diet for growing period and 11% for the finishing) were on the smaller size of the trimmed ham, highest fat content in the empty body and lowest water retention rate. Reduced protein corn/soybean meal based diets supplemented with amino acids, for the growing (13% CP) and finishing (12,8% CP) stages, does not affect the body composition, the estimated carcass lean yield, and the nutrient deposition rate for pigs that have a better potential than average for lean growth.

Malodour Abatement by Different Covering Materials

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The capacity of controlling odor emissions of low cost organic and inorganic materials used to cover manure surface was studied in a research project. 14 steel tanks of 1.83 m diameter by 1.22 m high were buried 0.9m in the soil and the tanks were filled with manure on 0.9 m (0.32 m left on top for cover treatment). Different covering materials were applied on the manure surface: chopped straw, cornstalks, polyethylene open mesh with a liquid surface film, Leka rock, and foam generated from air bubbles and manure solids. Their odor control capacity was verified by olfactometry analysis and chemical analysis of air samples taken in the headspace of each tanks weekly for 9 weeks. The chemical analysis were done with sample detector tubes on the following identified compounds: ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, ethyl mercaptan and methyl mercaptan. Results show that straw, cornstalks, Leka rock, and surface foam can reduce odors, the reusable Leka rock being the more costly ($150 to $180 U.S. /m3). For scale applications the odor reduction rate and the cost still have to be determined to find acceptable manure covering strategies. The effect of wind on the material applied on large tanks and also the covers’ longevity and integrity still have to be investigated on real scale tanks.

The behavior of those covers was not verified for large tanks; the covers giving the more promising results should be verified for field situations. Odor reduction capacities should be determined and also the techniques for cover application and maintenance. The choice of a covering strategy for farm application could than be done.