This publication gives a broad review of the odor situation as it is in 1981. General information is given on the physiological reactions associated to odor and the complexity of odor is also presented. A list of odorous volatile compounds is given and information about ammonia releases associated to specific practices are also given. Odor measurements are also discussed, presenting olfactometry and also the cotton swatches technique and mentioning that the concentration of certain odor components cannot be considered as odor indicator. The group of odor sources such as feed material, fresh manure, and stored or decomposing manure are to be considered. Odor control principles and approaches are presented being pH control to limit ammonia releases, inhibition of anaerobic decomposition (aeration, usage of bedding, oxidation ditches and aerated lagoons), physical confinement of manure (covered manure storage, anaerobic treatment devices) and finally reduction of exhaust air odor (by air-borne particles removal). The odor control can be done also by the addition of odor control chemicals added to feed or manure. Management practices and different designs can be done to control odor such as proper siting with a proper perimeter separating the livestock production unit and manure storage facilities from the neighbors, consideration in the siting to prevalent wind direction, proper management control to keep the animals clean and frequent manure scraping or flushing and to maintain good storage conditions. A good timing (to avoid nuisances and interference with recreational activities) and techniques (injection, plough right after spreading) for manure disposal are also essential in order to limit complaints from neighbors.

This is a good review of for the time. Many considerations in 1981 are still accurate in 1997 and many questions raised are yet not answered.