Brent W. Auvermann

SURFACE AMENDMENTS TO MINIMIZE AMMONIA EMISSIONS FROM BEEF CATTLE FEEDLOTS

Amendments for reducing ammonia emissions from open–lot beef cattle feedlots were evaluated in the laboratory. A mixture of 1550 g of soil, 133 g of feces, and 267 g of urine was placed into plastic containers that were 20 cm U 20 cm U 12 cm deep. Using a vacuum system, clean air (3.2 L/min) was passed over the soil–manure surface and ammonia was trapped by bubbling the air through dilute sulfuric acid. Treatments were a blank (soil with no manure), control (soil–manure mixture with no amendment), 4500 kg/ha Al2(SO4)3 (alum), 9000 kg/ha alum, 375 kg/ha commercial product (CP) for reducing ammonia emissions, 750 kg/ha CP, 4500 kg/ha calcium chloride (CaCl2), 9000 kg/ha CaCl2, 9000 kg/ha brown humate, 9000 kg/ha black humate, 1 kg/ha of the urease inhibitor N–(n–butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), and 2 kg/ha NBPT. There were four replications of each treatment. Ammonia emissions were measured for 21 days following application of the amendments. Cumulative ammonia emissions after 21 days, expressed as a percentage of the control, were 0.4% for the blank, 8.5% for 4500 kg/ha alum, 1.7% for 9000 kg/ha alum, 73.6% for 375 kg/ha CP, 68.2% for 750 kg/ha CP, 28.8% for 4500 kg/ha CaCl2, 22.5% for 9000 kg/ha CaCl2, 32.4% for 9000 kg/ha brown humate, 39.8% for 9000 kg/ha black humate, 35.9% for 1 kg/ha NBPT, and 34.4% for 2 kg/ha NBPT. Calculated costs of the amendments ranged from

Carcass composting for management of farm mortalities: a review

0.12 to

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF CATTLE FEEDLOT DUST EMISSION

5.53 per application per head. Only one treatment had a benefit/cost ratio greater than 1.0. Results suggest that amendments can reduce ammonia emissions from open feedlots, but the costs may be prohibitive. Site–specific environmental impacts should be evaluated before using these amendments in a commercial setting.

Health Effects from Breathing Air Near CAFOs for Feeder Cattle or Hogs

For the last two decades, carcass disposal by burial is being replaced with alternatives such as composting. Improper animal mortality disposal may generate various environmental and health hazards such as odor nuisance (resulting from the anaerobic breakdown of proteins) that can reduce the quality of life and decrease property values. Pathogens, which may still be present in the decomposed material, are capable of spreading diseases in soil, plants, animals and humans. The potential leaching of harmful nitrogen and sulfur compounds from animal mortalities to ground water is another concern. To control these side effects, compost facility operators need to know and understand the science and guidelines of carcass composting. While basic principles of carcass composting are similar to those for composting of organic materials, its management issues, including appropriate composting methods for large or small scale carcass composting, quantities and types of carbon sources, composting time, odor and leachate control, and equipment requirements differ from composting of organics. The purpose of this study is to review the previous works related to carcass composting and provide information on recent advances in small and large-scale carcass composting enabling higher decomposition rates, minimum usage of carbon source materials, easier and shorter management control strategies and reduced land requirement while producing a useful end product and avoiding negative impact on public safety and environmental parameters.

The Association between Proximity to Animal Feeding Operations and Community Health: A Systematic Review

The cattle feedlot industry is under increased scrutiny and regulatory involvement at state and national levels with regard to particulate matter (PM) emissions from fugitive sources. Concentrations of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) and PM less than 10 micrometers (PM10) aerodynamic equivalent diameter (AED) were measured, using high volume samplers and Sierra Andersen samplers, respectively. Particle size distributions of dust captured on sampler filters were measured with a Coulter Counter model TAII. Mass median diameters for high volume and PM10 samplers averaged 9.5 ± 1.5 and 6.9 ± 0.8 µm (AED), respectively. Three cattle feedlots (17,000 to 40,000 head capacity) in the Southern Great Plains were used in the study.

CONTINUOUS AMMONIA EMISSION MEASUREMENTS FROM A COMMERCIAL BEEF FEEDYARD IN TEXAS

Abstract There is concern that livestock operations for fattening cattle and raising hogs known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) release substances into the air that have negative effects on the health of persons living nearby. These substances include dust containing endotoxin and other microbial products as well as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and a variety of volatile organic compounds. Odors from these farms are considered offensive by some neighbors. A variety of medical complaints are reported to be more common in those people who live near CAFOs for raising hogs than in people without this exposure. Respiratory health effects, including symptoms of pulmonary disease and lung function test result abnormalities, have been described in workers employed in CAFOs where hogs are raised. Health effects after inhalation exposure of neighbors to substances released into the ambient air from these farms is less well characterized. It must be noted that CAFO workers may differ from neighbors in terms of their exposures and general health status. The presence of dust and other substances from cattle feedlots also causes some neighbors to voice concerns about the impact on their health but this exposure has been studied less extensively than exposure to substances released from CAFOs where hogs are raised. Further research needs to be done to look for measurable health effects attributable to living near all CAFOs in order to better understand the impact of these farms.

LABORATORY EVALUATION OF THE DUST-EMISSION POTENTIAL OF CATTLE FEEDLOT SURFACES

Background A systematic review was conducted for the association between animal feeding operations (AFOs) and the health of individuals living near AFOs. Methodology/Principal Findings The review was restricted to studies reporting respiratory, gastrointestinal and mental health outcomes in individuals living near AFOs in North America, European Union, United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. From June to September 2008 searches were conducted in PUBMED, CAB, Web-of-Science, and Agricola with no restrictions. Hand searching of narrative reviews was also used. Two reviewers independently evaluated the role of chance, confounding, information, selection and analytic bias on the study outcome. Nine relevant studies were identified. The studies were heterogeneous with respect to outcomes and exposures assessed. Few studies reported an association between surrogate clinical outcomes and AFO proximity. A negative association was reported when odor was the measure of exposure to AFOs and self-reported disease, the measure of outcome. There was evidence of an association between self-reported disease and proximity to AFO in individuals annoyed by AFO odor. Conclusions/Significance There was inconsistent evidence of a weak association between self-reported disease in people with allergies or familial history of allergies. No consistent dose response relationship between exposure and disease was observable.

Design, Utilization, Biosecurity, Environmental and Economic Considerations of Carcass Composting

Ammonia emissions from cattle feedlots pose the potential to react with other compounds such as oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, which lead to detrimental environmental effects. Ambient ammonia (NH3) concentrations were measured continuously at a beef cattle feedyard for 12 months beginning in March 2007. Concentrations were measured every 5 min, 24 hours per day, at a sample intake height of 3.3 m using a chemiluminescence analyzer. On-site weather data were collected concurrently. Modeled emissions of NH3 were compared with the mass balance of N for the feedyard. Mean annual NH3 concentrations were 0.57 ppm, with a monthly average low of 0.37 ppm in December 2007 and a monthly average high of 0.77 ppm in August 2007. Flux densities were calculated using a backward Lagrangian stochastic model (WindTrax 2.0.7.8). Mean annual flux density was 70.7 µg m-2 s-1 (2.2 kg m-2 year-1). Mean monthly flux density ranged from 42.7 to 123.1 µg m-2 s-1 (0.11 to 0.32 kg m-2 month-1) in November and April 2007, respectively. Both concentration and flux density had a diel distribution with minima during the nighttime hours and maxima during the early afternoon. On an annual basis, 48.8% of fed N was volatilized as NH3. The inverse modeled daily ammonia production per head was 85.3 g NH3-N (head fed)-1 d-1.

IMPACT OF ANAEROBIC LAGOON MANAGEMENT ON SLUDGE ACCUMULATION AND NUTRIENT CONTENT FOR DAIRIES

A laboratory apparatus was developed for measuring the dust-emission potential of cattle feedlot surfaces as affected by manure surface characteristics. A feedlot surface was simulated with a layer of dry, loose, sieved feedlot manure, either with or without a compacted soil layer underneath. The vertical action of the cattle hoof was reproduced by dropping a steel weight onto the manure surface. High-volume samplers for PM10 (particulate matter smaller than 10 .m aerodynamic equivalent diameter) were used to collect suspended PM10. The effects of kinetic energy of the falling weight, manure depth, manure moisture content, bulk density, and surface amendment (sawdust, wheat straw, and surface water application) were investigated. For each manure depth, PM10 emission was directly related to the kinetic energy of the falling weight. For each weight drop, PM10 emission did not differ significantly with manure depth. In addition, PM10 emission was inversely related to the manure moisture content. Compaction of the manure surface reduced PM10 emission. Increased amounts of water, sawdust, or wheat straw to the manure surface also significantly decreased PM10 emission in initial tests, but dislodging/displacement of wheat straw and penetration of the wetted surface crust by the falling weight increased the emission potential for subsequent tests. The weight drop test chamber developed is a simple and repeatable method that can be used to compare relative effectiveness of different dust abatement measures. While the measurements are reproducible, the vertical action of the cattle hoof is highly simplified; thus, the WDTC might not fully reproduce the actual vertical action of the cattle hoof on a feedlot surface. In addition, the resulting aerosol may not have similar physical characteristics as those of dust emitted from feedlots.

Atmospheric Ammonia Mixing Ratios at an Open-Air Cattle Feeding Facility

A successful carcass composting enterprise relies on proper design, layout, management, cost analysis, environmental impacts, and quality of the finished product. A well-designed carcass composting process with adequate capacity and a practical layout facilitates an even flow of inputs and outputs. It will also prevent environmental insult (such as wastewater, odors and gases) from compost by-products and the finished product. A well designed system will produce an end product that is free of most pathogens and serve as a soil amendment for agricultural activities.