Search

Outbreaks of infectious diseases involving depopulation of animals require on-farm practices to stage carcasses when final disposal methods are unavailable. The current study assessed various materials and techniques for containing carcasses to minimize leachate and biological substances. The tested materials included tarps, soil, corn stover (CS), and lime, while the methods involved covers, chemical additives, barriers, and containment. Treatments included the following: 1) control, carcasses in a pile; 2) carcasses wrapped in tarp material; 3) carcasses covered with tarp material; 4) carcasses covered by soil; 5) carcasses placed on CS base with tarp cover; 6) carcasses on CS base with CS covering; and 7) carcasses on CS base with a lime covering. Each treatment was run in triplicate using three carcasses per replicate. Temperatures, headspace gas, and leachate from carcasses were collected over a 91-day holding period. Pairwise comparisons of means were made when treatments were significantly different. Carcasses lost significant amounts of their liquid contents in the first 27 days. Leachate contents were initially filled with organic material and potassium that significantly declined with time, while Fe, Zn, and Cu concentrations increased significantly over time. Covers did not reduce leachate volume, but soil covers significantly reduced substances in the leachate. Corn stover barriers significantly reduced both leachate volume and substances in the leachate. Containing carcasses in tarp material was the most effective method for holding leachate and preventing its loss to the environment. This research demonstrates that growers should focus on sealing carcass containers and constructing barriers to limit surface contamination during depopulation events., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Swine growers seeking to lower costs and environmental impact have turned to alternative carbohydrate feed sources. A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect carbohydrate sources have on manure composition and gas emissions. A total of 48 gilts averaging 138 kg BW were fed diets consisting of (a) low fiber (LF) grain, or (b) high fiber (HF) aro-industrial co-product (AICP). The LF diets included corn and soybean meal (CSBM) and barley soybean meal (BSBM). The HF AICP diets were CSBM based and supplemented with one of the following materials: beet pulp; corn distillers dried grains with solubles; soybean hulls; or wheat bran. Diets were fed for 42 d with an average daily feed intake of 2.71 kg d -1 . Feces and urine were collected twice daily and added to manure storage containers in which manure slurries were monitored for gas emissions and chemical properties. Manures of animals fed HF diets had significantly (P < 0.05) more excretion of solids, C, N, and organic N, but less total S compared to pigs fed the LF diets. Animals feed HF diets had significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of ammonia, sulfide, volatile fatty acids, and phenols in manure compared to pigs fed the LF diets. Manure of animals fed HF diets had 30% (P < 0.05) lower NH 3 and 17% lower hydrogen sulfide emissions; however, fiber had no impact on odor emissions. Based on the partitioning of nutrients, animals fed HF fiber diets had increased manure retention for C and N but decreased levels of N gas emissions and manure S. There were little differences in manure and gas emissions for animals fed LF diets, but the source of HF AICP diets had a significant impact on manure composition and gas emissions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Soybean meal is the dominate protein source for swine diets in the world driven largely by economics, nutritive value, and availability; but conditions can change requiring growers to consider more economical and available protein alternatives. A feeding trial was conducted to determine the impact dietary protein source material on manure slurry chemical properties and manure gas emissions. A total of 32 gilts averaging 130 kg BW were fed either a control diet formulated with soybean meal (SB) or an alternative protein source that included corn gluten meal (CG); canola meal (CM); or poultry meal (PM), with all diets containing 176 g protein kg -1 . Diets were fed for 45 d with an average daily feed intake of 2.68 kg/d. Feces and urine were collected twice daily after each feeding and added to animal-specific manure storage containers. At the end of the study, manure slurries were monitored for gas emissions and chemical properties. Dietary protein source had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on manure pH, total solids, total C, protein N, and total S. Pigs fed the diets containing CM had significantly higher levels of sulfide, butanoic acid, and branch chain fatty acids compared to pigs fed SB diets (P < 0.05). Pigs fed CM diets had significantly lower emissions of NH 3 compared to pigs fed SB diets (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in C or S emissions or in odorant emission as affected by source of dietary protein. Hydrogen sulfide was the most dominate odorants for all dietary treatments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Crude protein (CP) is a key nutrient in swine diets supplying essential amino acids, N, and S to animals for growth are fed in excess to maximize growth. Swine diets reduced in CP and supplemented with crystalline amino acids have been shown effective at maintaining animal growth while increasing overall CP use efficiency. A feeding trial study was conducted to determine the effects of reduced dietary CP levels on manure slurry chemical properties and gas emissions. A total of 24 gilts averaging 111 kg BW were fed corn and soybean meal diets formulated with 8.7, 14.8, and 17.6% CP using crystalline amino acid supplementation in the 8.7 and 14.8% CP diets, but only intact protein, soybean meal, in the diet containing 17.6% CP. Diets were fed for 45 d with an average daily feed intake (ADFI) of 2.70 kg across all diets. Animals were fed twice daily with both feces and urine collected during each feeding and added to animal-specific manure storage containers. At the end of the study, manure slurries were monitored for gas emissions and chemical properties. Increasing dietary CP levels increased manure pH, total solids, total N, and total S, including increased levels of ammonia (NH 3 ), volatile fatty acids, and phenolic compounds. Pigs fed lower CP diets had lower emissions of NH 3 , branched chain fatty acids (BCFA), and phenol compounds which translated into lower emissions in total odor. Emissions of NH 3 and odor were reduced by 8.9% and 4.2%, respectively, for each unit percent decline in dietary CP. Hydrogen sulfide was the dominate odorant associated with manure odor emissions. Based on nutrient mass balance, animal retention of dietary N and S increased by 7.0% and 2.4%, respectively, for each unit percent drop in crude protein fed animals, while C retention in the animal declined by 2.1%., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Sulfur is a key nutrient in swine diets and is associated with hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) emissions, odor, and respiratory distress of animals. Due to potential increases in S levels in swine diets by using alternative feedstuffs, a feeding trial study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary S source has on manure slurry chemical properties and gas emissions. A total of 24 gilts averaging 139 kg BW were fed a control diet formulated with corn and soybean meal (CSBM) containing 1.80 g S kg -1 or diets containing 3.50 g S kg -1 feed as supplied by calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ), distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), or feather meal (CFM). Diets were fed for 41 d with an ADFI of 2.70 kg/d. Feces and urine were collected twice daily after each feeding and added to the manure storage containers. At the end of the study, manure slurries were monitored for gas emissions and chemical properties. Dietary S source had a significant effect on excretion of DM, C, N, and S in manure. Pigs fed the diets containing DDGS had significantly higher levels of NH 3 , VFAs, and phenols in manure compared to pigs fed the CSBM diet. Pigs fed diets with organic S (i.e., DDGS and CFM) had lower emissions of H 2 S compared to pigs fed the diet with inorganic sulfur (CaSO 4 ). In contrast, there were no significant differences in C or N emissions as affected by dietary treatment. Odor and odorant emissions differed by dietary treatment, with pigs fed the CFM diet having the highest odor emissions as compared to pigs fed the control CSBM diet. Pigs fed diets containing CFM and DDGS had a greater percentage of their chemical odor associated with volatile organic compounds while animals fed the CSBM diet or the diet with CaSO 4 had greater percentage associated with H 2 S emissions., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Sulfur is an essential nutrient for animal growth but is also associated with odor and morbidity of animals from swine operations. A study was conducted to determine the effects of increasing dietary S levels in swine diets on DM, pH, C, N, S, VFA, indole, and phenol concentrations in the manure, and on the emissions of C-, N-, and S-containing gases. A total of 24 gilts averaging 152 kg BW were fed diets containing 0.19, 0.30, 0.43, or 0.64% dietary S, as supplied by CaSO 4 , for 31 d, with an ADFI of 3.034 kg d -1 . Feces and urine were collected after each feeding and added to manure storage containers. At the end of the study, manure slurries were monitored for gas emissions and chemical properties. Increasing dietary S lowered manure pH by 0.3 units and increased DM, N, and S by 10% for each 1.0 g S increase kg -1 feed intake. Increased dietary S increased NH 3 , sulfide, butanoic, and pentanoic acid concentrations in manure. Carbon and N emissions were not significantly impacted by dietary S, but S emissions in the form of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) increased by 8% for each 1.0 g S increase kg -1 feed intake. Odor increased by 2% for each 1.0 g increase of S consumed kg -1 feed intake. Phenolic compounds and H 2 S were the major odorants emitted from manure that increased with increasing dietary S., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)