Separating dust particles using an aerodynamic deduster

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 1995 | No Comments

Dust is among the major pollutants that have a detrimental effect on the health of pigs and persons working in swine barns. Dust particles vary in size. Heavy particles settle out quickly, however, light particles remain suspended in the barn air representing a more significant threat to people and animals that inhale them. In this study, we designed and tested an aerodynamic deduster prototype that could be affixed to a recirculation duct. We also developed a particle separation theory to test the prototype based on the analysis of particle size.
Factors that affected particle separation efficiency in the aerodynamic deduster included the dedustera

Stereotypies in the stabled horse: Causes, treatments and prevention.

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The effects of nutrient dilution on the well-being and performance of female broiler breeders.

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Removal of airborne swine dust by electrostatic precipitation.

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An electrostatic precipitator used in conjunction with a recirculation duct was developed to remove airborne pig dust from an environmental chamber. The collection efficiency of the precipitator was evaluated by using 3 applied voltage levels (-10.3, -11.0 and -12.1 kV d.c.) and 3 airspeeds (0.55, 0.76 and 0.95 m/s). The overall collection efficiency of the precipitator ranged from 18.5 to 96.4% at applied voltages of -10.3 and -12.1 kV, respectively. Removal efficiency was highest at 0.76 m/s for all applied voltages. An applied voltage of -12.1 kV produced ozone levels of 0.21 ppm, which exceeded the recommended level of 0.1 ppm.

Animal waste – the smell of success or the stench of trouble?

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In the past odours resulting from livestock production was less of an problematic. However, over time poultry facilities have intensified significantly. With this increase also came an increase in manure production, odours, and the possibility of water contamination. Zoning and environmental agencies have not been able to develop regulations to keep up with the expansion of these facilities. For the time being companies continue to build large facilities without taking any of these factors into conisderation. This half-hazard approach to livestock development may lead to the development of conflicts in the future.

Bilan environnemental et zootechnique de l'engraissement de 4 lots de porcs sur litiere biomaitraisee

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An experiment was realized in two identical rooms that could accommodate 17 growing pigs. The pigs were on deep litter, one room using sawdust and the other straw. For the sawdust, a 50 cm layer thick layer was place at the beginning of the experiment and 4 consecutive fattening periods were realized. Once a week the feces produced were dung in the litter and a microbial product was added to it. Addition of fresh sawdust was done along the fattening period and the total amount needed was evaluated at 100 kg per pig. After the 4th fattening period the composted resulting from the litter degradation was 109 kg and 0.18 m3. The straw litter was managed the same way than the saw dust however after the first fattening period, the litter was removed and replaced by sawdust for the remaining of the experiment. The labor needed to mix the straw bed was more important than for sawdust and considered to heavy to be continued. For the 3 fattening periods remaining, the microbial product was added weekly in this room however it was not incorporated to the litter. The total amount of straw used equaled 49 kg/pig and the total compost produced from the 3 fattening period on sawdust equaled 164 kg/pig. The ammonia concentration was 68% higher in the room with the sawdust litter compared to the straw litter however the odour was stronger in the room with the straw bed. The growth rate of the pigs raised on deep litter was significantly higher than for pigs kept on slatted floor however no significant differences could be noticed in the carcass quality.

The research realized by this team showed that different litter material have different impacts on the ambient conditions. Higher dust concentrations have been measured with the sawdust litter and higher NH3 concentration were obtained with straw deep-litter.

The Effect of Environmental Odors Emanating from Commercial Swine Operations on the Mood of Nearby Residents

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The Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to determine the effect of environmental odors caused by intensive hogs operations on the mood of nearby residents. 44 experimental subjects rated their mood using a POMS questionnaire and their rating of six POMS factors and the total mood disturbance (TMD) was compared to the ones of 44 control subjects. Gender, race, age and years of education were considered in order to have control and experimental subjects that could be compared. The results showed that when comparing the six POMS factors and the TMD, statistically significant differences were obtained between the experimental group and the control. Consulting the POMS questionnaire the results showed that the persons leaving closer to the swine facilities experienced the odors reported more tension, more depression, more anger, more confusion, more fatigue and less vigor than the control subjects. Mood disturbances were also reported more frequently by the treatment group. The mood impairment reported could be partly explained by both innate physiological responses and learned responses.
The effects of odors on nearby residents of commercial swine operations are presented following a study on profile of mood states. It is important to better understand the human reactions to odors and also to evaluate and verify the consequence of odors exposure on health and well being of swine operations neighbors. Odor thresholds associated with the those reactions could be help define zoning or odor abatement systems for specific situations.

Manure Nutrient Management

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The cycle of nutrient from animal feed to manure to soil and than to crops is an efficient and environmentally sound practice for surface and groundwater if it is done properly done. Good manure management should include all the steps from storage to spreading. The document deals with proper ways to valorize manure particularly in determining the land surface needed for manure application. Two methods for such evaluation and optimization of the manure in order to maximize returns from the nutrients in the manure and avoid environmental consequences from over application are presented. The first method is for a new facility by evaluating the land needed and the second one is for an existent facility by fine tuning the operations. The first step is to set realistic yields goal, as yields goal that are too high will lead to over application of manure and nutrients wastes that could cause leaching and goal that are too low will result in less manure applied and less yield. The subsequent steps are presented for all the calculation for the two possible situations. For soils presenting a P concentration in the soil lower than 30 ppm, the application rate should be done according N requirements. For soil with high P content or if required by regulation, the application rate can be calculated considering P as the limiting element. Commercial fertilizer can than be used to complete the fertilizer requirements of certain elements in order to maximize the yield. Manure and soil sample should be taken every year to evaluate the situation and in order to make appropriate evaluations of the application rates needed.

This document is very interesting and contains a good tool to evaluate the land needed to maximize the nutrients value in manure and to make sure that environmental impacts from manure application are as low as possible.

Sprinkling canola oil in barn rooms

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Dust concentrations in animal buildings can be reduced by sprinkling a small quantity of canola oil. The sprinkling pressures and oil temperatures have already been defined (PSCI 1994 Annual Research Report). However, we have not yet optimized how much and how often oil was sprinkled at six application rates in three identical swine growing/finishing rooms. For the six oil application rates, dust concentration was reduced between 37% to 89%. Sprinkling more often was more effective than less often in terms of dust reduction. However, sprinkling more often than once a day is difficult when the oil application is less than 10 mL/m2 per day. Sprinkling more oil can reduce more dust, but a daily dosage of more than 10 mL/m2 caused greasy floors. Variable daily dosages for oil sprinkling had a higher efficiency of dust reduction than a constant daily dosage. A recommended variable oil sprinkling dosage is 40 mL/m2 for the first two days, 20 mL/m2 for the second two days and 5 mL/m2 for the rest of the production cycle with a 20 mL/m2 surge every two weeks. For grower/finisher units, this oil sprinkling schedule can reduce dust by 80% using only 0.5 L oil per pig marketed.

Variability in feeding behaviour of group-housed sows using electronic feeders.

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