A review of the control of odour nuisancefrom livestock buildings: Part 1, influence of the techniques for managing waste within the building

Abstract

Malodorous emissions from livestock buildings are caused by waste products, particularly. manure. The published information on how waste management practices influence odour production and emission has been reviewed, but the shortage of objective odour measurements makes it difficult to give practical recommendations with confidence. Some recommendations for research are, however, proposed. The main factors in livestock management have been analysed; these are waste removal,waste decomposition, design of the floor of the building, treatments that may be applied to the waste within the building (e.g. changing its pH) and the use of bedding materials. The interactions between most of these factors confound the analysis, but the evidence indicates that the main options for reducing odour production, odour emission or odour nuisance are frequent waste removal from buildings, or the prevention of anaerobic conditions developing in the waste. Reduction of the moisture content of the waste has been reported to reduce odour production. This may work by inhibiting the development of anaerobic conditions and it may explain why the use of bedding has been found to reduce odour. However, adequate odour measurement data on using different bedding materials and on other waste management practices must be gathered before any firm conclusions can be drawn. The relevance of information on emissions of ammonia from livestock buildings is briefly considered. Although ammonia concentrations in air do not show a good correlation with odour strength, nevertheless any step taken to reduce the ammonia emissions from a livestock building ought also to reduce the odour emissions and vice versa.