Both energy content and bulk of food affect stereotypic behaviour, heart rate and feeding motivation of female pigs.

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

Stirring the Pit

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This article examines a type of windmill manure lagoon aerator. This windmill is mounted on pontoons anchored in the middle of an Embro farmers 330,000-gallon manure tank. The pits contents are brought to the surface gradually where they are exposed to the air. The Embro area farmers farm became the experimental site not only because he has an interest in keeping odours under control, but also because he has two adjacent manure tanks.
Odour levels were low and manure nutrient levels were not affected by the machine. No maintanance is required and the amount of power needed to spin the windmill depends on the consistency of the liquid. The agitator costs between $3000 and $5000 depending on whether they are wind or electrically driven.

On-Farm Trial to Determine the Durability of Different Concrete Slats for Fattening Pigs

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A full-scale, on-farm trial in a pig building with concrete AYoor slats was initiated. The slats were made from seven diA

Sensitivity analysis of particle cut-size to deduster parameters.

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The particle cut-size for a uniflow deduster is affected by many factors such as chamber configuration, particle characteristics, and air flow patterns. Sensitivities of five parameters on particle cut-size were analyzed. These include the vortex chamber length, annular tunnel height between inside and outside cylinders, vane angle, tangential and axial air velocities. It is not effective to reduce particle cut-size by changing air velocity when air velocity is higher than 10.0 m/s, or by changing the length when the length of Section 1 of the chamber is longer than 1.0 m. The sensitivity changes much faster when the annular gap is smaller than 2.0 cm. The sensitivity increases dramatically as the average radius decreases from 0.5 m, or when the vane angle is smaller than 4o. Further research is needed to examine the sensitivity of particle cut-size to turbulence intensity.

Emissions of Ammonia and Greenhouse Gases during Storage and Composting of Animal Manures

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The experiment has been done with cattle and pig manure. No statistical analysis is presented which make the results more difficult to draw conclusions. The emissions from the storage covers were measured using cattle manure.

Preparation and Sampling Technique for a Passive Ammonia Diffusion Sampler

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The more important advantage of the use of passive sampling methods is the ease and measurements can be done in many locations simultaneously. Such sampling methods were available however the analysis needed after sampling are time consuming and the sampling conditions need to be well respected (wind speed). The new sampling method being developed would improve those parameters. More work is being done to identify the source of the differences obtained between the calculated and measured rates. Protocols of use will also be developed. These samplers would be used in intensive livestock facilities (poultry and swine).

Ontario to protect farmer's right to work in smelly, noisy settlings

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The nuisances from farm practices (noise, odours, later night-noise, vibration, dust, lights from massive greenhouses) would be allowed by the legislation even if they disturb neighbors as proposed in a law introduced just before the summer break of the legislature. The legislation is made so the normal farming practices, bigger and more high-tech industry types than the ones rural non-farming residents would rather see, would be accepted without being subject to nuisances complaints or restrictive bylaws. Agriculture Minister Noble Villeneuve wants to protect and keep the farming industry an active and important sector of the Ontario economy. In case of dispute over nuisances between a municipality, or whoever and a farmer, the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board (NFPB) will act as a referee and establish what is the normal farm practice for that type of operation and if the operation is considered normal, the farmer will be allowed to continue his operations. The municipalities won’t be able to restrict farmers’ expansion if their operation are considered normal farming practice; a phenomena which is seen often in areas where there are urban expansions into rural areas. However this law is not a license to pollute. Also Villeneuve acknowledge that the conflicts over farm practices will not stop with this legislation particularly where the opposition is strong.

Depending on the structure around this law, the end results may vary. Concerns often comes from groups who fear for the environment and it is not clear what the normal farm practices will cover in that area. The members of the NFPB will have to come from different groups in order to be credible to as many groups and organizations as possible, particularly the opponents.

Deep Litter Fermentation Systems for Fattening Pigs (technical Improvements, Nutrient Balance)

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The performances obtained in swine production with a deep litter system were verified under Swiss conditions for fattening pigs. The experiment took place in a poorly isolated building that was naturally ventilated and could accomodate 160 fattening pigs. The experiment helped finding optimal parameters for the production system: sawdust bed of 45 to 50 cm, sawdust prefered over wood chips or straw, the horizontal spreading or the feces is more important than intensive vertical mixing, thorough mixing can be done only every other week, the amount of sawdust needed for the growing-fattening period is 1.2 kg/kg weight gain, the work load associated with such system is less than for partially slatted floors. The growth performances obtained were above average and this system is appropriate when considering the remodelling of existing buildings. Even if the nitrogen losses are more important for such system compared to conventional liquid manure systems, the overall nitrogen efficiency is higher.

The total nitrogen emissions under the form of ammonia and nitrous oxide are not presented. It is mentioned however that the N losses with deep litter are high in the building and as a result the nitrogen available to plants is smaller with this system, the total N losses with deep litter system being 76,6% compared to 49,5 % for slurry system (compared to N content of the manure entering the systems). No information in given on the handling systems used for partially slatted floor so it is difficult to understand how the deep litter system requires less labour.

Developing a Manure & Dead Animal Management Plan

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Several management systems are discussed for manure utilization and dead animals disposal for different types of livestock facilities. Basic informations are given on manure nutrients, sampling, crop requirements and manure application. Five acceptable methods for storage and disposal of dead animals are also discussed such as : rendering, burial, incineration, refrigeration and composting. The choice from one system to another belongs to the operator who has to consider environmental regulations, neighboring residences, economics and livestock facilities appearance.

Dietary Manipulation to Reduce Ammonia and Odorous Compounds in Excreta and Anaerobic Manure Storages

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The results of this study showed that diets with reduced crude protein and supplemented with essential amino acids lower significantly the total N excreted and the ammonia concentrations, and modified the concentration and ratio of specific volatile compounds in fresh manure. The measurements for the concentrations and emissions were done in a laboratory on fresh manure samples and samples stored to simulate anaerobic storage.