Odour Emission from Swine Operations

G.Qu¹, J. Feddes¹, J. Leonard¹ and R.Coleman²

Alberta Pork Research Centre:

¹Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutrient Science University of Alberta

²Alberta Research Council, Vegreville

Odour emissions are hampering expansion plans for increased pig production in Alberta. The major source of odours is from manure storage lagoons and confinement buildings. Odour abatement methods have been difficult to evaluate since instrumentation has not been available to measure odour concentration. Recently, Alberta Pork Producers Development Corporation and Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development purchased a olfactometer and an electronic "nose". These units will be installed in a mobile lab that will be used to measure source odour emission and measure dispersion of odours downwind from a source. The end result of the research will be to lower emissions from swine facilities and predict an acceptable separation distance from each production site. Research activities will include quantifying odour emissions from buildings, lagoons and manure applied to land; relating the response of the electronic nose to the olfactometer; separating solids from liquid before long term storage; continuous versus intermittent loading of lagoons; two airspace ventilation systems; biofilter applications; and modifying an existing dispersion model. This will be a coordinated effort between University of Alberta (AFNS), Alberta Agriculture Food & Rural Development (LEADT), Alberta Research Council (Vegreville) and the Prairie Swine Centre Inc..