Wolfgang Büscher

Critical control points for on-farm assessment of pig housing ☆

Abstract Animal and environmental care, health, product safety and consumer acceptance are factors that are becoming increasingly important for the assessment of pig housing. It can be foreseen that housing conditions will undergo a documentation and certification process as part of a quality assurance scheme according to international standards [ ISO-9000 Series, Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards, 1994 ]. As already implemented for the food processing industry, critical control points (CCP, based on the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Point concept) have to be defined in order to objectively assess animal housing based on sound scientific data. The German working group “Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare” of the German Society of Animal Production (DGFZ) has proposed a concept for the “Assessment of Animal Housing and Management according to Welfare and Environmental Criteria”. Based on this concept, CCP and critical management points (CMP) have been developed for the categories health, behaviour, management and environmental impact. These criteria are intended to be used primarily by the farmer as an internal on farm assessment scheme. In the long run this concept of housing assessment through critical control and management points, measurable parameters and tolerance limits can be further developed and utilised by government agencies, consumer organisations and commodity groups that have an interest to evaluate, monitor and licence housing systems.

Stallinterne Quellen der Schadgasemission

In order to make exact conclusions about animal house emission characteristics, the individual sources in the house must be analysed. Knowledge about the quantity of noxious gases released from each emitting surface is the basis for emission abatement. An essential aspect of ascertaining single emitting sources is to select a reproducible measuring method. By using the wind tunnel, various surfaces were investigated in practice in a pig fattening house.

Einsatz von Flüssigmist-Additiven zur Emissionsminderung

Liquid manure additives have the advantage that they can be applied later in conventional housing methods. Their specific purpose is to reduce odour and ammonia emissions. Significant statistical differences between treated and non-treated liquid manure could be proven only in the fewest cases. By quantifying substance changes in the liquid manure by using additives, conclusions can be made regarding noxious gas emissions.

Verfahrensvergleich von Raum- und Zonenheizung bei der Ferkelaufzucht

After two years of investigations, various ventilation and heating systems for piglet rearing can comprehensively be assessed. Not only the economic parameters, but also the behaviour, the quality of house air and the gaseous emissions in waste air were considered. Compared to standard fans, the electricity consumption can be reduced by around 50 % by low-energy “EC-fans.” The reduction of thermal energy by about 50 % was achieved by using gas burners, compared to hot water floor heating. Floor heating is advantageous in the lying behaviour of young piglets and some air quality parameters.

Strömungsmessumformer zur Luftvolumenstrombestimmung in Stallanlagen

Other than heating, air volume flow in animal houses is currently the only method for adjusting the desired room temperature and air quality. With the development of anemometers, sensors are available, which make it very simple to measure the air flow and can easily be incorporated into the ventilation control system. Possible uses for these measuring instruments in animal houses are discussed in the following.

Wirkung von Additiven in Flüssigmistzur Emissionsminderung

Mit dem Multigasmonitoring liegt eine Messmethode vor, die mit hoher Genauigkeit Ammoniak (NH3), Methan (CH4), Lachgas (N20) und Kohlendioxid (C02) gleichzeitig und uber langere Zeitraume erfassen kann. Damit sind auch die Voraussetzungen gegeben, mehrere Flussigmist-Additive unter konstanten und reproduzierbaren Bedingungen prufen zu konnen. In eigenen Untersuchungen konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass einige Additive erst bei einer Flussigmisttemperatur von etwa 290 K Ammoniakemissionsminderungen im Vergleich zur unbehandelten Variante hervorrufen.