Equipment for Application of Animal Slurry in Field Experiments.

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 1994 | No Comments

The manure spreading equipment presented as been design for field experiments. However, the flow rate system could be investigated for commercial application as the control is very accurate. The application is controlled continuously and the rates are predetermined in the range of 10 to 100 t/ha and the application rate (t/ha) is independent of the travel speed as a computer system makes the necessary adjustments to change the rotation speed of the pump.

Rapport synthese – Inventaire et etude comparative des technologies de desodorisation et autres methodes et pratiques d'attenuation des odeurs de lisier

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

A comparative study on odor abatement techniques have been done to select the most promising avenues in manure deodorisation for Quebec conditions. The efficiency, the environmental, agronomical and economical impacts of those techniques have also been considered. A simulation model was constructed to include and process different parameters of the manure management chain. The analysis results show that for existing building, the use of biological feed additives, the use of roofs or covers for the manure storage facility and injection for manure disposal are the more advantageous measures. For new building, biocontrolled litter proved to be very promising. Regional manure treatment centers become interesting when the manure has to be applied on fields that are further than 24 km from the farm or storage facility.

This study is quite interesting and complete on the current techniques available and the economics associated with their uses.

Pre-slaughter diets affect meat quality

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

The influence of oral acid or base load on the processing quality of hams from halothane positive (HP) pigs was examined. HP pigs received either ammonium chloride (8g/L), sodium bicarbonate (12.6g/L) or no additive (HP control) pigs were also slaughtered. Meat from HP animals showed pale, soft exudative properties and was of inferior processing quality to hams of normal quality from HN pigs. Ammonium chloride induced a metabolic acidosis, which further impaired ham quality. Hams from ammonium chloride treated HP hogs had greater thaw purge, less uniform slice appearance and were less juicy than comparable hams from control or bicarbonate treated HP hogs.

Handling and transport of spent hens.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments

Natural Ventilation – 10 years later

Posted in: Energy by admin on | No Comments

Natural ventilation has become a very viable alternative to fan ventilation for growing and finishing pigs. Like many newer technologies, it has had its problems and is following a typical learning curve. However, it is here to stay and will likely increase in popularity with rising energy costs and an increased use of straw bedded, group housing arrangements. Today’s naturally ventilated barn is quite a bit different than the early 80’s model. Sidewall and ridge openings are discussed along with controls for natural ventilation and building location.

Transport of pathogens through soils and acquifers.

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

Between 1971 and 1980, the use of untreated groundwater was responsible for more than one-third of the waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States. This statistic points to the potential for subsurface contamination by pathogenic microorganisms. The major sources of pathogens are waste water effluents, residual sludges from waste treatment, and septic tank effluents. The number of septic tanks in the United States has been estimated at 22 million units. These on-site treatment systems serve approximately one-third of the U.S. population. They are major contributors to the contamination of subsurface environments. The contaminants are household chemicals (nitrate, heavy metals, organic toxicants), pathogenic microorganisms in soils and aquifer material is primarily governed by their transport and persistence in these environments. The survival and transport of pathogens in soils and aquifers are controlled b four major factors: climate (e.g. temperature, rainfall), type of soil or aquifer material (e.g. texture, pH, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity), properties of pore fluids (e.g. chemistry, saturation), and type of pathogen. In the following sections, we review the major factors controlling the persistence and transport of pathogens and discuss modeling efforts to assess pathogen fate in soil andsubsurface environments.

Modelling the Performance of a Non-steady State Continuous Aeration Plant for the Treatment of Pig Slurry.

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

Modelling has been used to study and understand better the process occurring during manure aeration. The simulation showed that problems could be expected if the temperature in the digestor decreased under 10 C in cold winter conditions and the temperature reached 47 C were the microbial activity would be affected during hot summer.

Olfaktometrie – Bestimmung der hedonichen Geruchswirkung – Olfactometry – Determination of Hedonic Odour Tone

Posted in: Environment by admin on | No Comments

To evaluate an highly odorant substance or source other parameters than the odour threshold have to be considered such as its effect for above threshold concentrations on the olfactory sensation and its hedonic odour tone. The Guideline presents a method for evaluating the hedonic odour tone of odorant air mixes or gases . The hedonic odour tone of an odour should not be confused with the odour quality (referring to fragrant, stale, pungent or such) and is, in the guideline, represented by a position on a scale from 4 which is an extremely pleasant odour to -4 representing an extremely unpleasant one with 0 being neither pleasant nor unpleasant. VDI 3881 and VDI 3882 should be used for odorant concentration and odour intensity determinations. The procedures are given to realize the hedonic odour tone measurements and the results evaluation and presentation. The hedonic odour tone has to be considered in odour abatement evaluation as reduction of the odorant emissions intensity may not always results in improvements of the hedonic odour tone. To evaluate a nuisance situation, frequency and duration of odorant presence in the ambient air have also to be considered.

This guideline gives interesting information and definitions of an important aspect of nuisance coming from odour which is the hedonic odour tone. Olfactometry methods are used to evaluate many parameters characterizing odours that are more oriented in quantity evaluation. These procedures can be applied to pleasant odour sources or substances in the same way than for unpleasant odour source. The hedonic odour tone evaluation gives information on the human emotional reaction to odour which is essential in odour evaluation and abatement.

Growing-finishing pig performance monitoring system

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

Pork producers are always looking for a new way to achieve better performance from their grower-finisher barn. In order to improve you must have a way of evaluating current performance and set a goal for future performance. It is the difficulty of evaluating current performance that has prevented us from achieving higher levels of production. The Growth Master, developed at the Prairie Swine Centre is a performance monitoring system that allows you to estimate the current level of animal and financial performance in the grower-finisher barn. With this easy to use computer system you can monitor using a technique of developing feed intake and growth curves. This produces a unique method of management for each farm while reflecting genetics, health, environment and nutrition of the herd. This program goes beyond identifying a

Road transportation of broiler chickens: induction of physiological stress.

Posted in: Welfare by admin on | No Comments