Pulmonary diseases caused by airborne contaminants in swine confinement buildings

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Sampling and Measurement of Ammonia Concentration at Animal Facilities a

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Lack of cross-protection between European H1N1 and H1N2 swine influenza viruses

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Land Application of Swine Waste: Regulation and Producer Practices in Oklahoma

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This paper develops some general hypotheses about producer practices relating to manure land application and examines current swine waste manure handling practices, land application methods, and potential land constraints based on a pilot survey of Oklahoma swine producers. This survey is undertaken to determine the actual importance of land and transportation cost constraints in this region and thereby assist policy makers in identifying potential causes for manure over-application. Based on a limited sample from our pilot survey, we find some evidence to support transportation-cost hypotheses about manure waste management: that transportation costs affect the distribution of swine waste on individual Oklahoma Farms.
The paper provides an overview of existing theory relating to the economics of land application of manure given possible land constraints and manure transportation costs. It then discusses regulation and policy relating to the land application of manure. Preliminary results of a pilot survey of Oklahoma swine producers are then presented. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of Oklahoma manure management practices for policy design.

What Should I Know About Air Quality in Pig Buildings?

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Heating and ventilation equipment installed in livestock buildings have improved over the last 20 years. Most production facilities have the poroper equipment required to control the building air temperature under extreme weather conditions. But considering that majority of thee systems are strictly controlled by rooom temperature, controlling the air quality in pig barns is still a good challenge. It is generally difficult to achieve a proper control of gas and dust concentrations in real barn conditions because the control strategy used is based on temperature and energy savings rather than air quality.

This paper reviews the most important airbourne contamininats present in a swine building and what should be the maximum concentration for each of these contaminants to ensure worker safety. Some health risks are discussed in the case where those limits are being exceeded. Various options are available to limit contaminant exposure in a barn environment

The Challenges of Treating Manure as Fertilzer

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Learning how to treat manure as a fertilizer is a challenge our industry must come to terms with. The value of the product is well documented and well understood by those utilizing it. The amount of nutrients in manure is significant and is equally useable on cultivated or hay ground. Some of the challenges producers face in effective use of the product are understanding and meeting the guidelines, having access to equipment on a timely basis, overcoming the cost associated with applications and arranging application in a very narrow window within our season. Another major issue is respecting the community, our neighbours and our families when applying the product.
Managing the product while being cognisant of the environment is a concern of all. Larger units must follow strict rules of application. Soil tests must be done and filed with a manure management plan. Before proceeding with application, pollution of the soil or water must always be a primary concern. The province has the ability to monitor and address improper applications and must be vigilant to ensure confidence in the public. Probably one of the most difficult challenges is dealing with the public concerns. Public perception is not always moved by fact or reality, but shifted by less than factual statements and intimidation. The real challenge is to spend as much time and effort in looking for answers to the problems as we do in opposing the current development. Research is a very necessary tool in resolving some of these issues. The only way to promote and ensure public protection and confidence is to establish clear and concise rules with enough resolve by government to enforce the rules. This also allows the industry to evolve knowing that as long as all criteria are met the required investments are secure.

Reduction of Ammonia and odor Emisions from a Piggery with Biofilters

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Long term measurements were carried out in aprrallel on two bio-filters under practical conditions to test their reduction potential for ammonia and odor emissions. Ther average efficiency of ammonia reduction was calculated for the first measuring period was about 15% at biofilter 1 and 36% at biofilter 2. The average efficiency of odor reductionwas calculated for the first measuring period was about 78% and 80% at biofilter 1 and 2 respectively. The efficiency of ammonia reduction was mainly influenced by the air flow rate. The odor reduction was mainly inluenced by the odor concentration before the filterbed. The cleaning efficiency of the biofilters could be improved by increasing the moisture content of the filterbed material from 20 to 40% or from 20 to 50%

Formation of Fuel-Grade Ethanol From Swine Waste Via Gasification

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The objective of this project is to investigate the application of gasification technologies to the treatment of swine waste for the ultimate production of fuel-grade ethanol. This waste treatment system would reduce the negative environmental impact of current manure management systems. The research objectives are: 1) to develop and test a system for harvesting swine manure in a form dry enough to be used as a gasification feedstock, 2) to establish the feasibility and the gasification conditions for the swine waste/amendments feedstock, 3) to characterize the end products of gasification (ethanol and mineral ash) and their potential markets, and 4) to conduct a rigorous economic analysis on the entire swine manure management model to determine its feasibility along with the factors that promote or impede its implementation.

Our research thus far has shown that swine manure can be a suitable feedstock for gasification. The belt system (an alternative waste management system) has the potential to dry the swine waste to more than 60% DM. The final conclusion regarding the feasibility of gasifying swine waste will be dependent upon the economic analysis of the entire housing and gasification system. A decision support system (DSS) will be developed that stimulates and optimizes the whole chain from animal production to manure spreading or processing. The system will assess the logistics, economics, and environmental effects for each of the elements of the chain. An economic/environmental sensitivity analysis of gasification as a manure processing technology will be performed by changing the options (such as subsidies on ethanol), the constraints (particularly the regulatory context), and the model assumptions. The results will be compared to an environmentally sustainable system based on current technologies, waste disposal by land application at agronomic rates that avoid eutrophic consequences.

SEASONAL AND SPATIAL VARIATIONS OF DENITRIFYING ENZYME ACTIVITY IN FEEDLOT SOIL

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Emergence of influenza A viruses

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