Animal production units and manure storage structures are permanent sources of various gas emissions. The amount of organic matter in manure is substantial, and the decomposition of such organic matter can result in a number of gaseous by-products including acidifying gases (ex. NH3, CO2, N2O), toxic gases (ex. H2S) and offensive odours. Management and storage of manure actually contributes to green house gases (GHG). In fact, it has been estimated that production buildings are responsible for 50% of total GHG. However, the role of pork production in odour and GHG is becoming better understood. With increasing public concern regarding GHG, the Prairie Swine Centre is responding with up to date data and potential remedies. A current three year research program has been developed to demonstrate synthetic covers for earthen manure storage (EMS), reduction of GHG through diet manipulation, and installation and monitoring of shelter belt influence on air quality while making the findings available to the public.
A floating cover was installed on the two-cell EMS in July 2003. Fans were installed to provide a vacuum under the cover, sealing the plastic against the liquid. This in tern reduces the opportunity for odours or other gases to escape, while also increasing the value of manure as a fertilizer. Diet manipulation can be helpful to reduce additional emissions by incorporating current information on diet management. For example, substituting soybean meal with synthetic amino acids to reduce the available nitrogen in the urine and faeces. A shelterbelt will also be developed in summer 2004 to provide long term carbon sequestration on the site and disrupt air patterns to assist in odour dispersion from the site. Projects like this will allow pork producers easy access to promising technologies as well as valuable information on the cost and challenges of operating these best management practises.