Fattening Facility Research Articles

Prevalence and characterization of the seven major serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in veal calves slaughtered in France

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) belonging to the “top 7″ serotypes (i.e. O157:H7, O26:H11, O45:H2, O103:H2, O111:H8, O121:H19 and O145:H28) are considered as the main pathogenic enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). As ruminants, including calves, are a reservoir of pathogenic STEC, we investigated the prevalence, major virulence genes and genetic relatedness of top7 STEC in veal calves slaughtered in France, through the analysis of 500 fecal samples collected over one year. Thirty top7 STEC isolates were recovered from 28 calves. The two serotypes O103:H2 and O26:H11 accounted for 73% of STEC strains, followed by O145:H28 and O157:H7. STEC super-shedding levels were identified for two calves carrying STEC O103:H2 and O157:H7, respectively. Thirty-nine atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) were also recovered from calves. Overall, a prevalence of 5.6% top7 STEC-positive calves was found, thus higher than that previously determined for the French slaughtered adult cattle (1.8%), confirming the impact of animals age on STEC carriage. Most top7 STEC strains carried the stx1a subtype suggesting a low pathogenicity for humans. Seasonal variation in STEC carriage was also observed, with two peaks of higher prevalence during spring and fall. Genetic similarity of top7 STEC isolates was found for calves originating from the same fattening facilities, reflecting STEC circulation between animals kept in groups. This study indicates that veal calves grown for meat production are at higher risk of shedding top7 STEC compared to adult cattle. They thus represent ideal targets for the implementation of farm interventions aimed at reducing STEC burden in cattle and the food chain.

Carbon sequestration offsets a large share of GHG emissions in dehesa cattle production

The contribution of cattle production to climate change is increasingly recognized, and there is a need to identify those systems minimizing emissions and maximizing carbon (C) sinks. In the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, cattle are produced on dehesa agroforestry systems, where cows and calves graze together until weaning, and calf fattening is based on external feed. The aim of this study was to assess the Carbon footprint (CF) of beef of this extensive production system using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.The study collects data from 15 extensive cattle farms, 6 organically (ORG) and 9 conventionally (CONV) managed; 4 farms had their own fattening facilities while most of the farms sold calves to 2 specialised fattening farms also studied. CF calculation includes field monitoring of C sequestration on soils and woody biomass in a selection of well-known points with previous estimations. The limit of the system was “cradle to gate”, and the functional unit was 1 kg LW of calf at slaughtering age. The main C sinks of the dehesa system sequestered an average of 3.3 t CO2eq ha−1 year−1. The average CF of the final product was 6.43 ± 21.46 kg CO2eq kgLW−1, with numerically lower but not statistically different average CF in ORG than in CONV systems. The inclusion of C sequestration, that averaged −13.52 kg CO2eq kgLW−1, offset 95% and 54% on ORG and CONV farms, respectively. In some cases, C sequestration compensated all GHG emissions and resulted in negative CF. There was a direct negative relationship between CF and stocking rate, leading to negative CF values in those farms with lowest stocking rates.

Particulate matter concentrations and emissions of a fattening pig facility in northern China

Particulate matter (PM) from pig farms are pollutants affecting human health and the environmental. The information on this topic is limited in China to date. A one-year study to monitor the dynamics of total suspended particles (TSP), particulate matter with diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) and 2.5 μm (PM2.5) was conducted in three pig fattening facilities of a commercial pig farm in Beijing, China. The results showed that daily mean indoor TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were 0.34–4.96, 0.15 to 1.01, and 0.06–0.20 mg·m−³. The average emission rate (ER) of PM per animal (pig) and livestock unit (LU = 500 kg) was 1.06 ± 0.65 g d−1 pig−1 (11.83 ± 7.07 g d−1 LU−1) for TSP, 0.50 ± 0.39 g d−1 pig−1 (5.53 ± 4.10 g d−1 LU−1) for PM10, and 0.12 ± 0.17 g d−1 pig−1 (1.42 ± 1.86 g d−1 LU−1) for PM2.5, respectively. The daily maximum concentrations of TSP and PM10 exceeded the Chinese environmental quality standard for the livestock and poultry farm (NY/T388-1999). The concentration of PM2.5 in animal house and emissions of PM form animal production have not been regulated in China, it is necessary to focus on mitigation measures to minimize the impacts of PM.

Effects of the novel concept ‘outdoor veal calf’ on antimicrobial use, mortality and weight gain in Switzerland

The aim of the intervention study ‘outdoor veal calf’ was to evaluate a novel concept for calf fattening which aimed at reducing antimicrobial use without compromising animal health. Management practices such as commingling of calves from multiple birth farms, crowding, and suboptimal barn climate are responsible for high antimicrobial use and mortality in the veal calf population. The risk of selecting bacteria resistant to antimicrobials and of economic losses is accordingly elevated. The ‘outdoor veal calf’ concept, implemented in nineteen intervention farms (IF), is based on three main measures: 1. purchased calves are transported directly from neighboring birth farms to the fattening facility instead of commingling calves in livestock dealer trucks; 2. each calf is vaccinated against pneumonia after arrival and completes a three-week quarantine in an individual hutch; and 3. the calves spend the rest of the fattening period in outdoor hutches in groups not exceeding 10 calves. The covered and bedded paddock and the group hutches provide shelter from cold weather and direct sunshine, constant access to fresh air is warranted. Nineteen conventional calf fattening operations of similar size served as controls (CF). Every farm was visited once a month for a one-year period, and data regarding animal health, treatments, and production parameters were collected. Treatment intensity was assessed by use of the defined daily dose method (TIDDD in days per animal year), and calf mortality and daily weight gain were recorded in both farm groups.Mean TIDDD was 5.3-fold lower in IF compared to CF (5.9 ± 6.5 vs. 31.5 ± 27.4 days per animal year; p < 0.001). Mortality was 2.1-fold lower in IF than in CF (3.1% ± 2.3 vs. 6.3 % ± 4.9; p = 0.020). Average daily gain did not differ between groups (1.29 ± 0.17 kg/day in IF vs. 1.35 ± 0.16 kg/day in CF; p = 0.244). A drastic reduction in antimicrobial use and mortality was achieved in the novel ‘outdoor veal calf’ system without compromising animal health. The principles of risk reduction used in designing the system can be used to improve management and animal health, decrease the need for antimicrobial treatments and thus selection pressure on bacteria in veal operations.

Suitability of Different Filling Materials for a Biofilter at a Broiler Fattening Facility in Terms of Ammonia and Odour Reduction

A two-stage exhaust air treatment system installed at a broiler fattening facility with 40,000 animals was investigated. The facility’s exhaust air was treated first by use of a chemo-scrubber (stage 1) and afterwards by a vertical biofilter (stage 2). The biofilter was equipped with root wood and honeycombed paper pad layers (half/half) to enable a direct comparison of both filter materials’ suitability. Odour samples were taken on site and afterwards analysed at an olfactometry laboratory. Ammonia concentration values were collected continuously using a photoacoustic multi-gas monitor. High mitigation performance was achieved with both filter materials, with the honeycombed paper pad layer being less susceptible to fungal growth than the root wood filter. Cellulose seems to be a proper alternative for use in biofilters, but further research is needed to estimate the long-term stability of this material.

Comparative 1-year performance study of two full-scale biotrickling filters for ammonia removal including nitrous oxide emission monitoring

This study presents the start-up and 1-year performance study of two full-scale biotrickling filters or biological air scrubbers at a pig fattening facility in terms of ammonia removal and nitrous oxide production. Two newly-built multi-stage biotrickling filters were continuously monitored for these gases and for washing water characteristics. Although pH and electrical conductivity in the washing water are used in practice as a cheap and easy way to monitor the ammonia removal efficiency of biotrickling filters at pig housing facilities, it was shown that the relation between these variables is not always straightforward. Setting up a nitrogen balance over both biotrickling filters suggested denitrification activity. Additionally, the effect of inoculation with activated sludge of a wastewater treatment plant was investigated by inoculation of one of the two biotrickling filters. The inoculated biotrickling filter showed a fast start-up of nitrification and hardly any nitrite accumulation in the washing water. The ammonia removal efficiency was higher and the nitrous oxide production was slightly lower in the inoculated biotrickling filter compared to the non-inoculated.

Results of measurements of particulate matter concentrations inside a pig fattening facility

Description of the subject. This research note discusses the results of measurements of particulate matter concentrations inside a pig fattening facility. Objectives. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the correlations between the different size fractions of indoor particulate matter (PM) inside a pig fattening facility and to investigate the evolution of particle size distribution (PSD) through a fattening period and between two housing systems and two cleaning protocols. Method. Data from two consecutive fattening periods in a commercial pig barn were used. Results. Very high correlations were found between PM10 and PM2.5 indoor concentrations. Depending on the measuring instrument, high or low correlations were found between PM1 and PM10 or PM2.5 indoor concentrations. No differences in PSD could be found between the two housing systems or the two cleaning protocols. Conclusions. The results from the present study showed high correlations between the indoor concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5. In the present study, no differences in PSD were found.

Evaluation of sampling strategies for estimating ammonia emission factors for pig fattening facilities

Determining ammonia emission factors (EF) for fattening pig facilities is important from both a regulatory and a research point of view. However, measurements to determine an EF can be time consuming and costly. Several reduced sampling strategies were developed in the past to reduce the costs and measuring time, by taking into account parameters that influence NH3 emissions. A methodology to evaluate the precision and accuracy of estimated EFs solely as a function of the sampling frequency and strategy is demonstrated. This evaluation was done by using two long-term, high frequency datasets which both contained measurements during two consecutive pig fattening periods. These datasets were subjected to simulated sampling strategies. Long-term, low-frequency grab sampling proved to be more accurate than short-term monitoring. Repetitive short-term sampling events result in increased precision, but as this entails higher investment in time and money it is imperative to strike the balance between desired precision and available resources. A method to help as set guidelines to decide upon the number of short-term sampling events or the length of a long-term, low-frequency monitoring strategy is presented.

Indoor concentrations and emissions factors of particulate matter, ammonia and greenhouse gases for pig fattening facilities

The objective of the study was to investigate indoor concentrations (IC) of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10), NH3, N2O, CH4 and CO2 in different conventional pig fattening facilities and one low-emission fattening facility. Concentration data were used to calculate respective emission factors (EF), which were assessed and evaluated with regard to similar studies. In total, six pig fattening stables were sampled during two fattening periods. The average indoor PM concentrations were 15.0, 38.9 and 719 μg m−3 for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 respectively for conventional pig fattening stables, while for the low emission stable, these were 14.2, 41.2 and 595 μg m−3 respectively. The average indoor gas concentrations for the conventional stables were 18.7, 817, 128 and 2034 ppm for NH3, N2O, CH4, and CO2 respectively and for the low emission stable 16.3, 0.731, 164 and 2156 ppm. The emission factors of the conventional fattening facilities were 3.4, 7.8 and 99.9 g a−1 yr−1 for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 respectively, while the EF was 2.2 kg a−1 yr−1 for NH3, 154 g a−1 yr−1 for N2O, 10.4 kg a−1 yr−1 for CH4, and 420 kg a−1 yr−1 for CO2. For the low emission stable the EF were 2.3, 7.3 and 85.3 g a−1 yr−1 for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 respectively, while the EF was 1.6 kg a−1 yr−1 for NH3, 136 g a−1 yr−1 for N2O, 19.5 kg a−1 yr−1 for CH4, and 545 kg a−1 yr−1 for CO2. Furthermore, the particle size distribution and the correlations between EF, IC and different operational conditions were investigated.

Indoor concentration measurements of particulate matter at a pig fattening facility: Comparison and equivalence tests with different sampling instruments and measuring techniques

The objective was to test the comparability and equivalence of different techniques for the measurement of particulate matter concentrations (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1) in heavy PM loaded agricultural aerosols like the indoor climate of a pig fattening facility. The equivalence assessments were performed according to EN 132051 (2002). Furthermore, the instrument performances were evaluated with regard to temperature and relative humidity (RH) at the sampling site, sampling duration and PM concentration levels. Four types of instruments were included in these experiments: a reference instrument according to EN 123412 (1998), a PM10 impactor, a beta attenuation monitor and two similar spectrometers. In most cases, comparable results in PM10 concentrations were found between instruments. Furthermore, for this fraction, equivalence according to EN 132051 was established with the spectrometers. For PM2.5 and PM1, the measured concentrations were less comparable between the different instruments, and consequently no equivalence could be shown. In general, slightly lower PM10 concentrations were obtained by the samplers with an impaction separation technique (Reference Sampler, BAM and Impactor). In contrast, for PM1 and PM2.5, the impaction techniques measured concentrations up to 25 times higher than the spectrometers tested. The latter phenomenon was probably due to overload of the impaction plates of the samplers.

Typical indoor concentrations and emission rates of particulate matter at building level: A case study to setup a measuring strategy for pig fattening facilities

The objective was to collect a large dataset on both indoor concentrations and emission rates of particulate matter (PM), make a detailed analysis of the temporal and spatial variations of PM, and thereby develop a measuring strategy for pig fattening facilities. Different PM fractions ranging from 0.25 to 32 μm were sampled continuously together with environmental parameters (i.e., temperature and relative humidity). Sampling position (19 locations) within the compartment showed a significant effect on PM concentration, but this was small compared to the effect of the daily variations and the variation over the whole fattening period. The contribution of location to the variance of indoor PM concentrations was 6, 4 and 12% for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. The effect of daily variation contributed 29, 65 and 58% to the concentration variance, while the effect of variation over the fattening period was 65, 31 and 31% for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. Based on these conclusions, a measuring strategy for pig fattening facilities is proposed. For one fattening period, the strategy consists of 4 to 5 specific sampling periods of 48 h. This measuring strategy offers the possibility to shorten the total sampling time significantly and to reduce the number of measurements without loss of important PM concentration characteristics (e.g., daily peak concentrations and emission factors). This strategy also allows a reconstruction of the evolution of PM concentrations over the entire fattening period.

Determination of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) spawning time within a transport cage in the western Mediterranean

AbstractGordoa, A., Olivar, M. P., Arevalo, R., Viñas, J., Molí, B., and Illas, X. 2009. Determination of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) spawning time within a transport cage in the western Mediterranean. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 2205–2210. For the first time, tuna spawning in a transport cage being towed from the western Mediterranean spawning ground to a fattening facility off the coast of northeastern Spain was examined during the 2008 fishing season. Daylight and night surface plankton samples were collected using bongo nets located in front of and behind the transport cage. The results for the different time intervals revealed clear and massive nocturnal spawning from 03:00 to 05:00, when the rear bongo was completely jammed with eggs (up to 250 000–300 000 eggs per 1000 m3). Egg size and morphology were consistent with the features of Thunnus thynnus eggs, and identification was confirmed by genetic analysis. Microscopic examination showed the eggs to be in the very early developmental stages. Spawning took place every night over the entire journey. The study showed that neither captivity nor handling/environmental changes along the route inhibited T. thynnus spawning to a very precise biological clock. The study also revealed the diel temporal concurrence of T. thynnus spawning and jellyfish larvae at the sea surface.

Influence of Porcine Housing Density on Species Diversity and Number of Airborne Microorganisms at Fattening Facilities

Microbiological composition of air, as a factor of ambient conditions in animal facilities can significantly influence performance, health and animal welfare in the swine production. The aim of this investigation was to determine, by monitoring primary microclimatic conditions, the possible association of the number of fattening pigs per unit of housing space with species diversity and number of airborne microorganisms. The research was conducted at a fattening and finishing facility of 450 m2 (equipped with 44 pens designed for 10 animals each) with low-pressure ventilation in three different trials. The first trial was conducted during the autumn-winter period with the capacity of 440 animals (0.7 m2 of pen area per fattening pig), the second trial was conducted during the winter-spring period with 356 animals (0.8 m2 of pen area per fattening pig), and the third trial was conducted during the spring-summer period with 312 animals (1.0 m2 of pen area per fattening pig). The air samples for isolation of fungi and mesophilic, haemolytic, and coliform bacteria were taken and microclimatic conditions were monitored during each trial at the same consecutive weekly periods. According to the data obtained from all trials, the total number of bacteria and fungi did not exceed 104 and 103 CFU per m3, respectively. The most numerous were gram-positive bacteria, followed by gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The total number of airborne microorganisms correlates significantly (at p &lt; 0.05) with porcine housing density. These data may be useful for the assessment of housing density at fattening facilities that will not compromise swine health and welfare regarding the microbiological air quality, and thus may contribute to the implementation of optimal rearing conditions in large-scale animal producing units.