In order to improve the current knowledge about GHG emissions from swine production systems, a research project between IRDA and the Prairie Swine Center was developed. The purpose is to measure GHG emissions from swine production buildings, manure storage and manure treatment facilities over a 2-year period. GHG emissions will be assessed for different types of production buildings, manure storage facilities, and manure treatment systems. Following the completion of some of these projects, it will become possible to identify the agricultural sectors which should be targeted for GHG emission reductions in the future along with appropriate mitigation measures. Data collected midway through the project have delivered estimates that the Canadian swine production systems do not constitute a major anthropogenic source of GHG.
There are opportunities for the swine industry to reduce their emissions even so. The frequent removal of manure from building may reduce CH4 and N2O emissions. For manure storage and land application, more information on different technologies is still needed to determine the best possible solutions. For manure treatment, anaerobic biodigestion processes offer the potential of converting the methane produced into useable energy. This offers to benefits as methane, a more serious GHG, will be converted to carbon dioxide and the energy generated will reduce the costs of fuel needed during production.