Stress and travel sickness in pigs: effects of road transport on plasma concentrations of cortisol, beta-endorphin and lysine vasopressin.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on January 1, 1996 | No Comments

Effects of lighting on the welfare of domestic poultry: a review.

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Health hazards affecting the animal confinement farm worker

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This article discusses several important issue regarding confinement farming of poultry and swine. Major issues that are raised include the environment of the animal confinement facility, aerosols, gases, noise, and the potential risk of these factors to the farm worker.

Manure Odor Reduction from Pit Additives

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Odor is a subject of growing public concern. Implementation of a odor control strategy can significantly reduce the level of offensive odor generated from and intensive livestock operation. Commerical pit additives are one alternative in the fight to reduce odor. This study examined the effectiveness of commercial pit additives for odor reduction effectiveness. Odors were tested through olfacrometry( A panle of four individual smell mixtures of odorous air from cylinders diluted by specifice amounts of fresh air. Dilution rates were adjusted until all panel members detect some odor, the odor threshold. A 0 to 87 percent reduction in the odor threshold was found with various responses to volatile fatty acids, pH, total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen.

Odour Nuisance from Livestock Production Systems

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Effective economic methods are needed to control offensive odours arising from the storage and landspreading of slurries and solid manure and from livestock buildings. Odour concentration in air can be determined through the use of a dynamic dilution olfactometer and a panel of people. The use of micrometeorological or wind tunnel techniques, enable rates of odour emission to be calculated during and after spreading wastes on land.
The highest rates of emission occur during and for the first few hours after spreading. These rapidly decline to much lower levels, which normally persist for 2-3 days with small diurnal fluctuations, reflecting changes in wind speed and possibly, air temperature. A wide range of animal, management and environmental factors influences rates of emissions. Methods for reduction include anaerobic digestion or aerobic treatment of slurries prior to storage, direct injection into soil or, on arable land, rapid incorporation by ploughing or rotavation. There is less information on odour emissions from livestock buildings which are often much greater than those from land, especially from mechanically ventilated pig and poultry houses. Frequent removal of wastes, or cleaning exhaust air by means of a biofilter or bioscrubber can be effective in reducing these emissions.
Relationships between odour concentration and odour intensity (the perceived strength) suggest that, in many instances, >90% reduction in concentration is needed for effective abatement.

Research Briefs

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on | No Comments

A low cost balloon-type lagoon cover

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Existing odour control methods for manure lagoons are cost intensive. Economical and effective covering methods for manure lagoons need to be studied and developed. This study demonstrated that a balloon-type manure lagoon cover could be an economical and effective method in reducing odour emission to the atmosphere. In this balloon type cover, a plastic tarp was tightened around perimeter, and inflated on the top, of a lagoon using a low pressure blower. The perimeter of the tarp was airtight. That way, odour was confined within the lagoon and the emission of odour into the atmosphere was minimized. Technical aspects such as proper installation and sealing of perimeters for the cover were tested. Critical pressures (minimum operating pressures to prevent flapping of the tarp) versus wind were determined. The cover effectively eliminated the odour emission to atmosphere and improved the landscape. The cover cost was approximately $6,000, which is considered to be much less expensive compared to solid structure covers such as steel and wood. It is expected that the cover to be used for earthen lagoons if a concrete foundation around the lagoon perimeter is constructed.

Lameness in dairy cattle.

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Welfare and production implications of teeth clipping and iron injection of piglets in outdoor systems in Scotland.

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The effect of beak trimming on two strains of commercial tom turkeys.

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