Characterizing ammonia emissions from swine farms in eastern North Carolina: part 1--conventional lagoon and spray technology for waste treatment.

Ammonia (NH3) fluxes from waste treatment lagoons and barns at two conventional swine farms in eastern North Carolina were measured. The waste treatment lagoon data were analyzed to elucidate the temporal (seasonal and diurnal) variability and to derive regression relationships between NH3 flux and lagoon temperature, pH and ammonium content of the lagoon, and the most relevant meteorological parameters. NH3 fluxes were measured at various sampling locations on the lagoons by a flowthrough dynamic chamber system interfaced to an environmentally controlled mobile laboratory. Two sets of open-path Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers were also used to measure NH3 concentrations for estimating NH3 emissions from the animal housing units (barns) at the lagoon and spray technology (LST) sites. Two different types of ventilation systems were used at the two farms. Moore farm used fan ventilation, and Stokes farm used natural ventilation. The early fall and winter season intensive measurement campaigns were conducted during September 9 to October 11, 2002 (lagoon temperature ranged from 21.2 to 33.6 degrees C) and January 6 to February 2, 2003 (lagoon temperature ranged from 1.7 to 12 degrees C), respectively. Significant differences in seasonal NH3 fluxes from the waste treatment lagoons were found at both farms. Typical diurnal variation of NH3 flux with its maximum value in the afternoon was observed during both experimental periods. Exponentially increasing flux with increasing surface lagoon temperature was observed, and a linear regression relationship between logarithm of NH3 flux and lagoon surface temperature (T1) was obtained. Correlations between lagoon NH3 flux and chemical parameters, such as pH, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) were found to be statistically insignificant or weak. In addition to lagoon surface temperature, the difference (D) between air temperature and the lagoon surface temperature was also found to influence the NH3 flux, especially when D > 0 (i.e., air hotter than lagoon). This hot-air effect is included in the statistical-observational model obtained in this study, which was used further in the companion study (Part II), to compare the emissions from potential environmental superior technologies to evaluate the effectiveness of each technology.

Characterizing ammonia emissions from swine farms in eastern North Carolina: part 2--potential environmentally superior technologies for waste treatment.

The need for developing environmentally superior and sustainable solutions for managing the animal waste at commercial swine farms in eastern North Carolina has been recognized in recent years. Program OPEN (Odor, Pathogens, and Emissions of Nitrogen), funded by the North Carolina State University Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center (APWMC), was initiated and charged with the evaluation of potential environmentally superior technologies (ESTs) that have been developed and implemented at selected swine farms or facilities. The OPEN program has demonstrated the effectiveness of a new paradigm for policy-relevant environmental research related to North Carolina's animal waste management programs. This new paradigm is based on a commitment to improve scientific understanding associated with a wide array of environmental issues (i.e., issues related to the movement of N from animal waste into air, water, and soil media; the transmission of odor and odorants; disease-transmitting vectors; and airborne pathogens). The primary focus of this paper is on emissions of ammonia (NH3) from some potential ESTs that were being evaluated at full-scale swine facilities. During 2-week-long periods in two different seasons (warm and cold), NH3 fluxes from water-holding structures and NH3 emissions from animal houses or barns were measured at six potential EST sites: (1) Barham farm--in-ground ambient temperature anaerobic digester/energy recovery/greenhouse vegetable production system; (2) BOC #93 farm--upflow biofiltration system--EKOKAN; (3) Carrolls farm--aerobic blanket system--ISSUES-ABS; (4) Corbett #1 farm--solids separation/ gasification for energy and ash recovery centralized system--BEST; (5) Corbett #2 farm--solid separation/ reciprocating water technology--ReCip; and (6) Vestal farm--Recycling of Nutrient, Energy and Water System--ISSUES-RENEW. The ESTs were compared with similar measurements made at two conventional lagoon and spray technology (LST) farms (Moore farm and Stokes farm). A flow-through dynamic chamber system and two sets of open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) spectrometers measured NH3 fluxes continuously from water-holding structures and emissions from housing units at the EST and conventional LST sites. A statistical-observational model for lagoon NH3 flux was developed using a multiple linear regression analysis of 15-min averaged NH3 flux data against the relevant environmental parameters measured at the two conventional farms during two different seasons of the year. This was used to compare the water-holding structures at ESTs with those from lagoons at conventional sites under similar environmental conditions. Percentage reductions in NH3 emissions from different components of each potential EST, as well as the whole farm on which the EST was located were evaluated from the estimated emissions from water-holding structures, barns, etc., all normalized by the appropriate nitrogen excretion rate at the potential EST farm, as well as from the appropriate conventional farm. This study showed that ammonia emissions were reduced by all but one potential EST for both experimental periods. However, on the basis of our evaluation results and analysis and available information in the scientific literature, the evaluated alternative technologies may require additional technical modifications to be qualified as unconditional ESTs relative to NH3 emissions reductions.

Hydrographics and the timing of infectious salmon anemia outbreaks among Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) farms in the Quoddy region of Maine, USA and New Brunswick, Canada.

Infectious salmon anemia (ISA) has caused severe morbidity and mortality in farmed Atlantic salmon in North America, Norway, Scotland and the Faroe Islands. The Quoddy region of Maine, United States of America (USA), and New Brunswick (NB), Canada is characterized by extensive tidal mixing and close proximity between farms. This region is also prone to recurrent appearances of ISA, though control measures limit disease spread and severity on infected farms. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal analysis of the apparent impact of hydrographics on the incidence and timing of ISA outbreaks on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) farms in the Quoddy region from May 2002 to August 2004. A time-series cross-sectional regression of 32 farms over 28 months demonstrated a limited, but statistically significant, spatio-temporal clustering of ISA outbreaks linked hydrographically. New outbreaks correlated temporally with those occurring on-site 1 and 3 months prior, and those occurring within one tidal-excursion upstream the same month. Other risk factors included holdover of previous year-class fish, wharf sharing, and possibly harvests of cages infected in previous months. Conclusions suggest that tidal dispersion does play a role in ISAV transmission in the Quoddy region. Dispersal of free virus and/or tidal distribution of lice or other hydrographically influenced vectors or fomites could all contribute to the spatio-temporal patterns described.

Milk temperature in the claw piece of the milking machine and mammary surface temperature are predictors of internal mammary temperature in goats.

Mammary internal and surface temperatures and milk temperature were correlated using five lactating goats. Internal mammary temperature was estimated using temperature-sensitive transmitters placed deep within the parenchyma of each mammary half. External mammary temperature was estimated using infrared thermography of four mammary skin sites: T1, teat end; T2, teat base; G1, about 20 mm above the teat base; and G2, about 20 mm ventral to the base of the gland deep to the thigh. The thermistor bead used for estimating milk temperature was placed in the claw piece where the short milk tube of the liner attaches. This placement minimized cooling effects of milk contact surfaces. The overall correlations of milk temperature with mammary temperatures ranged from 0.45 to 0.64. Correlations among the six paired values for the four external sites ranged from 0.76 to 0.92. Milk and surface temperatures, milking time, and milk weight were employed in various combinations as covariables; these were calculated within animal, within half. Milk temperature was the single most important predictor of internal mammary temperature in all models. Milk temperature alone or combined with covariables can be used to predict internal mammary temperature.

Comparison of semiautomated method with official optical somatic cell counting method III for determining somatic cells in milk.

The new method specifying the Fossomatic-90 differs from the official method, 46.105-46.109, in that the modified instrument includes a halogen lamp; a semiconductor photoelectric detector; a less expensive, bench-top cabinet; manual injection of a larger sample, and a reduced capacity. The new instrument was compared with 2 optical somatic cell counters in routine use. On each of 3 days, 12 subsamples were prepared for each of 5 cell count levels from AM milk with half kept fresh and half preserved with 0.05% potassium dichromate. Subsamples were refrigerated and read 30+ h post-collection. Duplicate sets were read in random order on each machine daily (CV 0.77%). Two sets of slides read by 2 technicians each (strip reticle on 2 smears/slide) gave geometric mean direct microscopic somatic cell count (DMSCC) levels of 296, 526, 772, 930, and 1438 th/mL. Within-technician CV values (from day-level means) ranged from 1.68 to 2.28%. Geometric mean cells in th/mL on the new machine were significantly higher than those on the other two (674 vs 621) and were closer to the DMSCC (694). On the new machine, cell counts were 8.5% greater than on the original machines, were only 2.9% lower than the DMSCC, and showed no significant evidence of bias. Preserved samples averaged slightly greater than fresh (5.3%) but only on the original machines. Carryover by covariance analysis was insignificant. Except for cell levels, high machine precision (error CV value of 1.18%) gave differences with statistical but not practical significance, even for regulatory laboratories.