Energy and Economic Balance between Manure Stored and Used as a Substrate for Biogas Production

The aim of the study is to draw attention to the fact that reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions as a result of traditional manure storage for several months in a pile is not only a non-ecological solution, but also unprofitable. A solution that combines both aspects—environmental and financial—is the use of manure as a substrate for a biogas plant, but immediately—directly after its removal from the dairy barn. As part of the case study, the energy and economic balance of a model farm with dairy farming for the scenario without biogas plant and with a biogas plant using manure as the main substrate in methane fermentation processes was also performed. Research data on the average emission of ammonia and nitrous oxide from 1 Mg of stored manure as well as the results of laboratory tests on the yield of biogas from dairy cows manure were obtained on the basis of samples taken from the farm being a case study. The use of a biogas installation would allow the emission of carbon dioxide equivalent to be reduced by up to 100 Mg per year. In addition, it has been shown that the estimated payback period for biogas installations is less than 5 years, and with the current trend of increasing energy prices, it may be even shorter—up to 4 years.

The influence of the method of manure removal and storage on the quality of organic products

The aim of this article was to compare the quality of manure in different ways of its removal and storage for environmental pollution. The research was conducted in three farms of Kyiv region with different methods of manure removal, storage and processing: using deep long-lasting straw litter (manure removal three times a year); with manure processing in a closed bioreactor-fermenter of the closed type; with manure settling in open lagoons. In all farms, the average annual livestock is 400 dairy cows. Samples for analysis of manure (processing waste) were taken the day before export to the field. The average daily air temperature during sampling was +21.3 °C. In terms of the sum of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in 1 kg of fertilizers, the highest indicators were observed for the variant of keeping in deep litter – 7.69 g. intermediate bioreactors-fermenters observed intermediate values – 6.69 g. The highest moisture content of manure was during storage in the lagoon – by 19.71 % and 1.38 % more compared to the option on deep litter and in the bioreactor-fermenter. The lowest number of weed seeds was for storage in deep litter – 84 pcs/ml, which is 19 and 23 pcs/ml more than for processing in a bioreactor-fermenter and storage in the lagoon. The indicator of weed germination, which is very important from the point of view of future use of manure as an organic fertilizer in general, had positive indicators for all storage (processing) options. The germination rate of weeds for storage in deep litter was 5.72 %, which is 3.14 and 4.42 % less than for processing in a bioreactor-fermenter and in the lagoon. The largest emissions of N2O (nitric oxide) were in the variant of manure storage in the lagoon – 40712.45 kg, which is 39781.88 kg more than in the options of storage in deep litter and in the bioreactor-fermenter. The content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter of fertilizer obtained from 1 kg of manure from deep litter, exceeded similar indicators of other methods of storage due to daily application of straw.

Pilot Plant for the Capture of Ammonia from the Atmosphere of Pig and Poultry Farms Using Gas-Permeable Membrane Technology

Gas-permeable membrane (GPM) technology is a possible solution to reduce ammonia (NH3) emissions from livestock housing. This paper presents the results obtained with an NH3-capture prototype based on the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes in real conditions in a gestating sow house and a free-range laying hen house, comparing them with the results obtained in controlled laboratory conditions for the same type of waste. The NH3 present in the air of the livestock housing was captured by reaction with an acidic solution flowing inside the membranes. The periods of continuous operation of the pilot plant were 232 days at the pig farm and 256 days at the poultry farm. The NH3 recovery rate at the end of those periods was 2.3 and 0.4 g TAN·m−2·d−1 in the pig and the poultry farms, respectively. The limiting factor for the capture process was the NH3 concentration in the air, with the highest recovery occurring in the most concentrated atmosphere. Differences in NH3 capture were observed between seasons and farms, with capture efficiencies of 1.62 and 0.33 g·m−2·d−1 in summer and 3.85 and 1.20 g·m−2·d−1 in winter for pig and poultry farms, respectively. The observed differences were mainly due to the higher ventilation frequency in the summer months, which resulted in a lower NH3 concentration inside the houses compared to the winter months. This is especially important when considering the real applicability of this technology. The results obtained suggest that GPM technology holds promise for limiting NH3 emissions from livestock housing with NH3 ambient concentrations close to 20 ppm or as part of manure storage facilities, given that it allows for recovery of nitrogen in a stable and concentrated solution, which can be used as a fertilizer.

Emissions of carbon dioxide and methane from dairy cattle manure

There is an increasing interest in reducing production and emissions of greenhouse gases to combat global warming. Greenhouse gases can be produced through animal production operations. One of the major sources of greenhouse gases emitted from the animal farming is dairy cattle barns. This study measured the CH4 and CO2 emissions from dairy cattle manure decomposition trapped inside the static chambers through anaerobic digestion process by bacteria and at regular intervals by focusing on animal age and manure storage method. Samples were analyzed using gas chromatography for the estimation of CH4 and CO2 emissions. Four Friesian cows were used representing two stages of cow age (3 and 10 years old) and 1 kg of fresh manure samples were collected (feces and mixture of feces with urine). It was found that CH4 and CO2 emissions produced by cattle at the age of 3 years were higher than age of 10 years. In addition, gases emitted from fresh slurry feces were higher than liquid manure for both ages (3 and 10 years). This is due to the fact that the organic matter degradation in the feces and amount of fresh slurry feces is twice the amount of fresh slurry feces used in the liquid manure, as well as the organic matter in the manure mass for the age of 3 years is higher than for the age of 10 years. The findings from this study can provide information for improving manure management practices in animal farms.

Evaluation of the Level of Biosecurity Measures Adopted in Broiler Farms Based on Manure Bacterial Load Examination in Khartoum State, Sudan

This study was conducted to evaluate the level of adopted biosecurity measures in broiler farms based on manure bacterial load examination in Khartoum State, Sudan. To achieve the goal, a cross sectional study was conducted. Data and manure samples were collected from January to September 2018 from 12 close system broiler farms according to Non-probability Multistage Cluster Sampling Method in Khartoum, Khartoum North (Bahri), and Omdurman localities (4 for each). A standardized questionnaire was also conducted and used for data collection. A total of 12 manure samples were collected from one chosen broiler house in each farm to check the TVCs. All collected Data were subjected to descriptive and analytical statistic such as Chi square and ANOVA using SPSS. The Results of external biosecurity measures revealed that half of the total farms examined (50%) were at a distance between 500 m to 1km from the nearest poultry farm. The same percentage was obtained for no manure spreading from neighboring farms. However, frequent passage of other farms vehicles via near public road was reported in 50% of participating farms. The internal biosecurity results showed that all the examined farms (100%) prohibiting manure storage beside 75.0% of them remove the manure through the dirty area. Furthermore, workers protective wearing when contact waste and hygiene practicing after removing waste sometimes practiced by 75.0% of the participant farms. The mean of bacterial TVCs in manure samples was found below the cut-off level (6.01±0.78 cfu/g) with 95% confidence intervals of 4.48-7.37, 5.20-6.79, and 4.39-7.84 and mean TVC of 5.93±0.90, 6.00±0.50, and 6.11±1.08 cfu/g for Khartoum, Khartoum North, and Omdorman, respectively. No significant difference was obtained for log means of bacterial TVCs and farm location (F value=0.047 and P-value=0.955). In conclusion, despite that the bacterial counts in manure samples were below the cut-off level, poor hygienic practices were detected. Formulation of suitable procedures and regulations by official authorities for implementing biosecurity measures is recommended.

ADIYAMAN İLİNDEKİ BESİ BARINAKLARININ TEKNİK VE YAPISAL YÖNDEN İNCELENMESİ

In this study, it was aimed to determine the current status and problems in terms of technical and structural conditions of beef cattle barns structures in Adıyaman city center and its districts, in the T.C. İpekyolu Development Agency (İKA) in TRC1 Region. The construction materials used in beef cattles, the dimensions of the structural elements, the levels of automation and mechanization, the product design and the problems faced by the manufacturers were determined. For this purpose, in line with the data obtained from Adıyaman provincial and district Agricultural Directorates, observations and measurements were made by going to all beef cattle enterprises and surveys were applied to each of the business owners to determine the technical and structural problems of the enterprises. According to the results of the survey, measurement, and observation, it was determined that all of the enterprises belong to the owners of the enterprises and all the shelters were planned as Open Beef Cattle Barns. 22.5% of the barns were built with the own money of the business owners, 5% by using loans, and 72.5% by getting both support and grant aid from the state. It was determined that 7,5% of beef cattle shelters had no roughage storage, 5% had no concentrated feed storage and 70% had no silage feed storage. As a result of the statistical analysis on beef cattle enterprises, a significant relationship was found between the construction years of cattle barns and needs to the renewal of barns or not (p<0.01). In addition between the number of animals in shelters and utilization status from government supporting programs such as credit, support and grants of business owners, and between the number of animals in farms and the presence or not of manure storage in the farms, a significant relationship was determined (p<0.01).

Sustainable nitrogen management for housed livestock, manure storage and manure processing

This chapter reviews sustainable nitrogen management for housed livestock, manure storage and manure processing. The chapter begins by discussing the various forms nitrogen can take, focusing specifically on ammonia, nitrous oxide and di-nitrogen. It then goes on to review livestock feeding and housing for dairy and beef cattle, pigs and poultry. The chapter also examines manure storage, treatment and processing by discussing the principles of emissions produced from these processes as well as mitigation measures that can be used. It also addresses the best practices and priority measures for livestock feeding, housing and manure storage, treatment and processing.

The Effect of Diet and Farm Management on N2O Emissions from Dairy Farms Estimated from Farm Data

The N2O emissions of 21 dairy farms in Germany were evaluated to determine the feasibility of an estimation of emissions from farm data and the effects of the farm management, along with possible mitigation strategies. Emissions due to the application of different fertilisers, manure storage and grazing were calculated based on equations from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change) and German emission inventory. The dependence of the N2O emissions on fertiliser type and quantity, cultivated crops and diet composition was assessed via correlation analysis and linear regression. The N2O emissions ranged between 0.11 and 0.29 kg CO2eq per kilogram energy-corrected milk, with on average 60% resulting from fertilisation and less than 30% from fertiliser storage and field applications. The total emissions had a high dependence on the diet composition; in particular, on the grass/maize ratio and the protein content of the animal diet, as well as from the manure management. A linear model for the prediction of the N2O emissions based on the diet composition and the fertilisation reached a predictive power of R2 = 0.89. As a possible mitigation strategy, the substitution of slurry for solid manure would reduce N2O emissions by 40%. Feeding cows maize-based diets instead of grass-based diets could reduce them by 14%.

Prevalence, Genetic Diversity and Factors Associated with Distribution of Listeria monocytogenes and Other Listeria spp. in Cattle Farms in Latvia

Listeria spp. is a diverse genus of Gram-positive bacteria commonly present in the environment while L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii are well known human and ruminant pathogens. The aim of the present study was to reveal the prevalence and genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. and to identify the factors related to the abundance of pathogen at cattle farms. A total of 521 animal and environmental samples from 27 meat and dairy cattle farms were investigated and the genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes isolates was studied with WGS. The prevalence of Listeria was 58.9%, while of L. monocytogenes it was −11%. The highest prevalence of L. monocytogenes was found in the environment—soil samples near to manure storage (93%), mixed feed from the feeding trough and hay (29%), water samples from farms drinking trough (28%) and cattle feces (28%). Clonal complexes (CC) of CC37 (30%), CC11 (20%) and CC18 (17%) (all IIa serogroup) were predominant L. monocytogenes clones. CC18, CC37 and CC8 were isolated from case farms and CC37, CC11 and CC18 from farms without listeriosis history. Only one hypervirulent CC4 (1%) was isolated from the case farm. Sequence types (STs) were not associated with the isolation source, except for ST7, which was significantly associated with soil (p < 0.05). The contamination of soil, feeding tables and troughs with L. monocytogenes was associated with an increased prevalence of L. monocytogenes at farms. Our study indicates the importance of hygienic practice in the prevention of the dissemination of L. monocytogenes in the cattle farm environment.