Fermentation characteristics of bedded pack barn dairy cattle manure on methane yield, carbon, and nitrogen content in solid-state anaerobic digestion.

This study aimed to estimate the fermentation characteristics of bedded pack barn dairy cattle manure (BDCM) in terms of methane yield, fibrous material, and nitrogen content in batch solid-state anaerobic digestion (SSAD). SSAD was performed in triplicate using a 1,400 ml polypropylene bottle at a constant temperature of 39 °C until less than 1% methane was produced. The cumulative methane content of BDCM was 142.5 N mL/g volatile solids (VSs). The methane content rapidly increased for 18 days, reaching 63.4 ± 4.6% until the end of the experiment. The ultimate biodegradability and total VS removal of BDCM were 23.1 and 19.0%, respectively. The slopes of the non-fibrous and hemicellulose carbon fractions, and acid detergent insoluble carbon by digestion time were -0.174 (p < 0.001), -0.141 (p = 0.003), and -0.051 (p < 0.001), respectively. The non-fibrous and hemicellulose nitrogen fraction contents quadratically decreased during SSAD (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008). No significant decrease was observed in the acid detergent insoluble nitrogen content (p = 0.840). The results of the present study provide basic data on the digestion characteristics of BDCM and could help determine fermentation conditions in the anaerobic digestion of BDCM.

Seasonal atmospheric characteristics in a swine finishing barn equipped with a continuous pit recirculation system using aerobically treated manure.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the seasonal characteristics of odorous material emissions from a swine finishing barn equipped with a continuous pit recirculation system (CPRS) using aerobically treated manure. METHODS: The CPRS consists of an aerobic manure treatment process and a pit recirculation system, where the solid fraction is separated and composted. The aerated liquid fraction (290.0%±21.0% per day of total stored pig slurry) is continuously recirculated to the top of the slurry in the pit. Four confinement pig barns in three piggery farms were used: two were equipped with CPRS, and the other two operated a slurry pit under the slatted floor across all seasons. RESULTS: The indoor, exhaust, and outside odor intensities were significantly lower in the CPRS group than in the control group (p<0.001). In the CPRS group, the odor intensity outside was significantly lower in the fall than in the other seasons (p = 0.015). In the indoor atmosphere, the temperature and CO2, NH3, and H2S contents of the CPRS group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). In the CPRS group, indoor temperature did not significantly change in the spring, summer, and fall seasons and was significantly lower in the winter (p = 0.002). NH3, H2S, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl disulfide, trimethylamine, phenol, indole, and skatole levels were significantly lower in the CPRS group than in the control group (p<0.05). There were significant seasonal differences on the odorous material in both the control and CPRS groups (p<0.05), but the pattern was not clear across seasons. CONCLUSION: The CPRS can reduce the indoor temperature in the summer to a level similar to that in the spring and fall seasons. The CPRS with aerated liquid manure is expected to reduce and maintain malodorous emissions within acceptable limits in swine facilities.

Effect of aerobically treated manure on odorous material emissions from a swine finishing barn equipped with a continuous pit recirculation system.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine reduction of various odorous materials from a swine farm equipped with a continuous pit recirculation system (CPRS) with aerobically treated liquid manure. METHODS: The CPRS is used in swine farms in South Korea, primarily to improve air quality in pig houses. In this study, CPRS consists of a manure aerobic treatment system and a fit recirculation system; the solid fraction is separated and composted, whereas the aerobically treated liquid fraction (290.0%±21.0% per day of total stored swine slurry) is continuously returned to the pit. Four confinement pig barns in three piggery farms were used; two were equipped with CPRS and the other two operated a slurry pit under the slatted floor. RESULTS: All chemical contents of slurry pit manure in the control were greater than those of slurry pit manure in the CRPS treatment (p<0.05). Electrical conductivity and pH contents did not differ among treatments. The biological oxygen demand of the slurry pit treatment was greater than that of the other treatments (p<0.05). Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and ammonia nitrogen contents of the slurry pit treatment were greater than those of other treatments (p<0.05). Odor intensity of the CPRS treatment was lower than that of the control at indoor, exhaust, and outside sampling points (p<0.05). The temperature and carbon dioxide of the CPRS treatment in the pig barn was significantly lower than those of control (p<0.05). All measured odorous material contents of the CPRS group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The CPRS application in pig farms is considered a good option as it continuously reduces the organic load of animal manure and lowers the average odorant concentration below the threshold of detecting odorous materials.

Effects of milk replacer and starter diet provided as creep feed for suckling pigs on pre- and post-weaning growth.

This study was aimed at investigating the long-term effects of provision of liquid milk replacer (MR) and solid starter diet (SD) during lactation on post-weaning (PW) growth of pigs. In experiment 1, 33 cross-bred litters were allotted to four treatments: no supplement (CON), MR ad libitum, SD ad libitum and 100 g SD/litter/day from lactation day 4 through weaning at day 21 during late fall. In experiment 2, 40 litters received MR or none in July. PW pigs received commercial diets to marketing. In experiment 1, weaning weight (WW), pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and mortality (2.4%) were not influenced by creep-feeding MR or SD. ADG was greater (P < 0.05) in the MR group versus CON during days 21-54, but did not differ across the treatments during days 54-162. In experiment 2, ADG during lactation and WW were greater in the MR group versus CON, with mortality lower in the former (5.6 vs. 10.3%). However, PW ADG to day 175 did not differ between the two groups. Results suggest that creep-feeding MR or SD has no effect on PW growth. However, it remains possible that MR reduces PW mortality during the hot season.

Effects of sires with different weight gain potentials and varying planes of nutrition on growth of growing-finishing pigs.

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of two groups of sires with 'medium' and 'high' weight gain potentials (M-sires and H-sires, respectively) on growth of their progenies on varying planes of nutrition during the growing-finishing period. The ADG of the M-sires' progeny was greater (P < 0.05) than that of the H-sires' progeny (0.51 vs. 0.47 kg) during a 26- to 29-d early grower phase beginning from 55 d of age, but the opposite was true (0.66 vs. 0.72 kg) during the latter grower phase. Overall grower-phase ADG was greatest on the high plane of nutrition (H plane) followed by the medium (M) and low (L) planes (0.65, 0.61, and 0.51 kg, respectively; P < 0.05) in the M-sires' progeny, whereas in the H-sires' progeny, ADG was greater on the H and M planes vs. L plane (0.63, 0.62, and 0.54 kg, respectively). The ADG of pigs on the M or H plane during the grower phase and switched to the H plane thereafter (M-to-H or H-to-H planes) was greater than that of pigs on the L-to-L planes (0.99 vs. 0.78 kg) during the early finisher phase in the M-sires' progeny (P < 0.01). However, in the H-sires' progeny, ADG of pigs on the L-to-L planes did not differ from that of pigs on the M-to-M or H-to-M planes (0.94 vs. 0.96 kg). Results suggest that the H-to-H or H-to-M planes and M-to-M or M-to-L planes are optimal for maximal growth of the M- and H-sires' progenies, respectively.

Effects of a lipid-encapsulated zinc oxide supplement on growth performance and intestinal morphology and digestive enzyme activities in weanling pigs.

This study compared the effects of varying lipid content and dietary concentration of a lipid-encapsulated (LE) ZnO product to those of native ZnO and thereby to find insights into optimal lipid coating and dosage of the Zn supplement. A total of 192 21-d-old weanling pigs were allotted to 48 pens, after which each six pens received a ZnO-free basal diet supplemented with 125 ppm ZnO (100 ppm Zn; BASAL), 2,500 ppm Zn as native ZnO (HIGH), or 100 or 200 ppm Zn as LE ZnO (LE-100 or LE-250) containing 8%, 10%, or 12% lipid [LE-8%, LE-10%, or LE-12%, respectively; 2 × 3 factorial arrangement within the LE-ZnO diets (LE-ALL)] for 14 d. Forty pigs were killed at the end for histological and biochemical examinations. None of ADG, ADFI, gain:feed, and fecal consistency score differed between the LE-ALL and either of the BASAL and HIGH groups. Hepatic and serum Zn concentrations were greater (p <0.05) in the HIGH vs. LE-ALL group, but did not differ between LE-ALL and BASAL, between LE-100 and -250, or among LE-8%, -10%, and -12% groups. Villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and the VH:CD ratio in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum did not differ between the LE-ALL and either of the BASAL and HIGH groups, except for a greater CD in the duodenum in the LE-ALL vs. HIGH group. Additionally, VH and CD in the duodenum and VH:CD in the jejunum were greater in the LE-250 vs. LE-100 group. Specific activities of sucrase, maltase, and leucine aminopeptidase in these intestinal regions and those of amylase and trypsin in the pancreas were not influenced by the lipid content or dietary concentration of LE ZnO and also did not differ between the LE-ALL and either of the BASAL and HIGH groups, except for a greater pancreatic amylase activity in the former vs. HIGH group. In conclusion, the present results indicate that the LE ZnO, regardless of its lipid percentage or supplementation level examined in this study, has no significant effect on growth performance, fecal consistency, or digestive enzyme activities of weanling pigs under the experimental conditions.