J. Mosquera Losada

Effect of Bedding Material on Dust and Ammonia Emission from Broiler Houses

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different bedding materials on fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5) and ammonia emissions from broiler houses. The effects on broiler performance and footpad lesions were also studied. The study was carried out in a mechanically ventilated broiler house with eight identical rooms, each accommodating 2260 broilers; it compromised two production cycles (rounds) of 35 days. The broilers were raised on four bedding materials: white wood shavings, chopped wheat straw, ground rapeseed straw, and silage maize. PM10, PM2.5, and ammonia concentrations and ventilation rates were measured. Production results and the incidence of footpad lesions were assessed. The results showed that compared with wood shavings, silage maize had 19% lower PM2.5 emission (p < 0.05). The PM2.5 emissions of silage maize were not different from those of wheat straw and rapeseed straw. Type of bedding had no effect on PM10 emission. PM2.5 mass was on average 4.8% of PM10 mass and increased with the age of the birds (p < 0.001). Ammonia emission from silage maize was 36% lower than from wood shavings, 47% less than from wheat straw, and 34% less than from rapeseed straw. Bedding material had no effect on broiler performance or on footpad lesions. It was concluded that silage maize can be a good alternative bedding to wood shavings and wheat straw in broiler houses.

Emission factors for methane and nitrous oxide from manure management and mitigation options

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto-protocol is aimed at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore, members report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions every year in a National Inventory Report (NIR). For agriculture the Netherlands identify three sources of GHG: enteric fermentation (methane), manure management (methane and nitrous oxide) and agricultural soils (nitrous oxide). The Dutch NIR reported that in 2009 23% of the agricultural GHG was caused by manure management. The methane-emission factors for manure management were assessed by a Tier 2 approach, the nitrous-oxide-emission factors were IPCC 2000-defaults. Between 2008 and 2010 an extensive measuring programme was carried out resulting in emission factors for housing systems of methane and nitrous oxide. Overall it appeared that emission factors of methane were higher than reported in the NIR, and emission factors of nitrous oxide were lower. This study investigates the consequence of those emission factors for the total emission of GHG from livestock housing and manure storage and the perspective of implementation of mitigation measures.

Emissions of aerial pollutants from poultry houses

For a better understanding of the present emissions of aerial pollutants from livestock production an extensive research project was started. The objective of this project was to provide emission figures that can be used to establish emission factors for aerial pollutants. Within this paper results from dust and ammonia emissions from broilers, layers floor housing, layers aviary housing, broiler breeders, and turkeys are reported. From the results it was concluded that the necessity of this study is shown by the high differences between measured PM10 emissions in this study and the emission factors estimated by conversion from total dust emissions in a previous study. Results show that PM2.5 contribution to PM10 is generally low (5 to 8%), except for turkeys where it was 47%.