Impact of Slatted Floor on Ammonia Emissions in FatteningSwine Housing

摘要

Swine housing design could be a way for reducing ammonia (NH3) emissions. However, there is a misunderstanding of the influence of animal housing design on gas emissions. In addition, it is often difficult to compare results from studies related to gas emissions because of unclear description of buildings characteristics. A better understanding of the relation between emissions and buildings design could help swine production to both, improve indoor air quality; and reduce cohabitation and perceptionissues. This project aimed to evaluate the impact of floor opening area on NH3 emissions in fattening swine housing. Because the floor in buildings is the first contact element of the manure, it is an important source of gas and odor. Then, to generateNH3 emission values associated to slatted surface, two measurement campaigns were carried out: a continuous measurement involving two buildings, and a punctual measurement involving 15 buildings. Selected buildings, located in Quebec, Canada, had similaroperational characteristics (mechanical ventilation, swine average weight and all-in/all-out management) and different slatted floor surfaces. As result, from continuous measurement, emissions from the fully slatted floor building were respectively 49%and 85% lower than those from the partially slatted floor building, in winter (3.47 vs 6.84 g d'1 pig', respectively) and summer (1.48 and 9.81 g d~l pig'1, respectively). From the punctual measurement, results depended on ventilation arrangement in thebuildings. In buildings with combinedpit-sidewall fan ventilation arrangement, 80% less.NH} emissions were produced by buildings with mostly slatted floor surface than buildings with partial slatted floor surfach (2.19 and 10.79 g d~' pig'1, respectively). For buildings with a sidewall ventilation arrangement, NH3 emissions were 51% higher compared to buildings with partially slatted floor (3.75 and 2.48 g d'1 pig'1, respectively). Further research should precise relation slated floor area and NH3 emissions. Meanwhile, the design of fattening pig buildings with a floor surface mostly slatted could be suggested in future new or renovated buildings.