Limiting the environmental impact of animal production odors

Abstract

Odors emananting from animal production facilities are the primary environmental cause for complaint resulting in great corrective expense and, in many instances, facility closure. The current state-of-the-art of odor control technology ranges from intensive waste management and good housekeeping practices to chemical treatment and facility isolation. These controls at best only limit the generation and/or quality of animal production odors. The most effective odor limiting technologies are the most cost intensive. Therefore, methods used are dependent upon the seriousness of the situation and the cost-benefit that may be derived from their use. Original facility design and site selection consideration are of great importance to the existence of confined animal feeding enterprises with a non-farm population which is encroaching at increasing rates into rural areas. Land use planning and zoning restrictions for agricultural/animal feeding purposes may well be the ultimate odor control tool of the future for newly instituted facilities. Extensive basic and applied research is required to provide adequate technology for use by existing facilities.