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Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Nitrous Oxide, Nitric Oxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Fluxes from Soils after Manure and Urea Application
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments
Reduce Odors: Plant Trees
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Lowering wind speeds over manure storage areas allows for slower release of the odor plumes. Shelterbelts are an excellent way to block the wind and deflect and lift the air odor plumes. When building a shelterbelt, a minimum of 2 rows of trees or shrubs should be planted, with wedge-shaped ones that face prevailing winds creating the most turbulence. Planting fast-growing species will also give height to the plumes more quickly.
Tall barriers around manure lagoons can reduce downwind lagoon odor emissions by 26 and 92%. The horizontal extent of wind protection is proportional to the height of the shelterbelt. Wind speed reduction on the windward side of shelterbelts has been recorded at 2 to 5 H of the shelterbelt and on the leeward side, typical reductions are 30H. As porosity of the shelterbelt decreases to less than 50%, the greater the turbulence in the turbulent zone in which much of the dilution of the odor takes place. Porosity can be manipulated by spacing and species. Deciduous trees tend to create more open shelterbelts near the ground compared with conifer shelterbelts. A 1984 study found that a forest cleans the air of microparticles 20 times better than barren land. Leaves with large circumferences collect these particles better than simple-shaped leaves, suggesting that conifers may trap particles more effectively than deciduous trees and shrubs.
The physical properties of compost
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A new inventory of ammonia emissions from Irish agriculture
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Impact of Diet on Odor
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Although odors have always been associated with animal production, only within the last decade has the interest to control them resulted in extensive research. Because odors are difficult to measure, this research has not achieved much more than suggestions as to what may work. What is known is that odors are predominantly the result of anaerobic fermentation of feed waste, indigested feed, and secretions by the animal. Although sulfur compounds are extremely malodorous and of concern for health, their role in odor sensation is controversial. Phenolics such as skatole and indole and volatile fatty acids are typically the compounds most highly correlated with odor sensation. Ammonia is derived from cleavage of urinary urea by fecal/bacterial urease. Ammonia is of health and environmental concern and should be reduced for those reasons. However, its correlation with odor sensation is mediocre and strategies effective at reducing ammonia may not positively affect odor.
Feed waste is a major contributor to waste carbohydrates and may be a substantial source of volatile fatty acids and methane. Thus, care should be taken to minimize feed waste, especially because this is also attractive economically. Non-starch polysaccharides in the feed are poorly utilized by non-ruminants and they will contribute to odor and methane production. For emission control, reducing non-starch polysaccharide intake may be important.
About half of the waste protein is from indigested feed, the remainder being from animal secretions. Selection of easily digestible feedstuffs can lower both the secretions by the animal and indigestible feed, the factor with the highest negative correlation with digestibility being the dietary fiber content. Thus, selecting feedstuffs with a low fiber content and thus a high digestibility, is preferred. Alternatively, fibers can be degraded using fiber-degrading enzymes such as xylanases. Low-protein feeds also have been shown to reduce both odor and ammonia emission without compromising animal performance.
An indirect method for reducing odorants is through manipulation of the microflora in both the intestines and in the waste. pH is a very important modifier, and lowering pH is suggested to be beneficial for reducing odor and ammonia emission. Microbial populations in the gut can also be manipulated using dietary fiber and pre, pro, and antibiotics. Although several experiments have demonstrated effective strategies for reducing odor through this mechanism, including the use of high fiber diets, our understanding of how to manipulate the microflora is still rudimentary.
Because odor production starts with the feed it is important that feed formulators start taking into consideration the impact of feed composition on waste production and odor. Options include formulating for lower crude protein contents, reducing dietary fiber, reducing excreta pH, and using compounds such as enzymes that improve digestibility.
Hydrogen Sulfide Assessment in Shallow–Pit Swine Housing and Outside Manure Storage
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Ontario Modifies Nutrient Management Plan
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After all the information sessions and public consultation meetings were held across Ontario, the following changes regarding the implementation of the regulations under the Nutrient Management Act are:
– Making July 1, 2003 the implementation date of the proposed regulations for all livestock farms and those expanding into and within the large category.
– Making 2005 the implementation date for existing large livestock farms
– Tying the implementation dates of any further regulations, other than the new and expanding livestock farms, to the availability of cost-shared funding
– A protocol would be established whereby the ministry of the environment would have the ultimate authority to ensure compliance with the regulations through investigations and enforcement
– The ministry of Agriculture and Food would be the first point of contact for on-farm nutrient management issues, including monitoring.
– Setting up a provincial advisory committee that would provide recommendations to the government regarding nutrient management issues. It would include farmers, environmental scientists, municipal representative and others.
– Some of the issues that would be referred to this committee for further examination are:
– When the proposed regulations would apply to all types of farms except new livestock farms, large livestock farms and those expanding into the large livestock farm category
– Restrictions regarding the siting and construction of nutrient storage as well as manure handling and application near municipal wells
– Seasonal outdoor feeding area standards
– Manure storage issues for existing operations
– Decommissioning of manure storages
– Nutrient application on tile-drained land
– Nutrient application on shallow soils
– Odour-related setback and standards
– Winter spreading restrictions for nutrients from the pulp and paper sector