Livestock Breeding Industry Research Articles

Pilot-scale multi-level biological contact oxidation system on the treatment of high concentration poultry manure wastewater

Abstract A pilot-scale (5 m3/d) study was applied for the treatment of a high-strength poultry manure wastewater by using a multi-level biological contact oxidation tanks system with novel carriers. Firstly, four kinds of carriers including porous block carriers, sponge globoid carriers, fiber ball carriers, and suspend plastic carriers were compared at lab-scale experiment to choose the best performed carriers for the further application in pilot scale experiment. Then, the performance of the pollutants elimination during the whole pilot-scale reactor as well as the contribution efficiency of each tank under different influent pollutants loads were investigated. Finally, the biomass evaluation on the carriers and the mechanism of nitrogen removal were also explored. The conclusion showed that the effluent quality could satisfy the discharge standard of pollutants for livestock and poultry breeding industry (GB 18596-2001) when the influent organic load was less than 3.64 kg CODcr/(m3 d) during the pilot-scale system placed with the porous block carriers. The contact oxidation tank I dominated the average contribution efficiency of CODcr (89.2%), ammonia (69.6%), and the total nitrogen (57.3%) during the three-level biological contact oxidation tanks. The step-feed operational model was suggested to further increase the pollutants removal capacity of the following Tank II and Tank III. The oxygen-deficient environment of the biofilm and the proper three-dimensional spiral structure of the carriers were suitable for the happening of the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification occurred in the pilot-scale aerobic reactor.

Study on the pollution status and control measures for the livestock and poultry breeding industry in northeastern China

Livestock and poultry breeding industry is one of the main economic pillars of northeastern China. However, the amount of pollutants produced is much higher than that in other parts of China. Through a questionnaire survey, indoor experiment, and outdoor experiment, it was found that the resource utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure in the northeastern region is low, with the pollution of livestock and poultry breeding mainly including air and water pollution. The alarm level of cultivated land and manure is II. While the livestock and poultry breeding is relatively concentrated area, its level is higher than grade II. Based on the pollution status of small farms, biogas can be produced through fermentation, along with the preparation of organic fertilizer, to completely utilize the manure and straw, while obtaining higher economic value, and effectively controlling the pollution from livestock and poultry breeding.

Genome editing in livestock: Are we ready for a revolution in animal breeding industry?

Genome editing is a powerful technology that can efficiently alter the genome of organisms to achieve targeted modification of endogenous genes and targeted integration of exogenous genes. Current genome-editing tools mainly include ZFN, TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9, which have been successfully applied to all species tested including zebrafish, humans, mice, rats, monkeys, pigs, cattle, sheep, goats and others. The application of genome editing has quickly swept through the entire biomedical field, including livestock breeding. Traditional livestock breeding is associated with rate limiting issues such as long breeding cycle and limitations of genetic resources. Genome editing tools offer solutions to these problems at affordable costs. Generation of gene-edited livestock with improved traits has proven feasible and valuable. For example, the CD163 gene-edited pig is resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS, also referred to as "blue ear disease"), and a SP110 gene knock-in cow less susceptible to tuberculosis. Given the high efficiency and low cost of genome editing tools, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, it is foreseeable that a significant number of genome edited livestock animals will be produced in the near future; hence it is imperative to comprehensively evaluate the pros and cons they will bring to the livestock breeding industry. Only with these considerations in mind, we will be able to fully take the advantage of the genome editing era in livestock breeding.

茅岭江入海口水质状况分析与评价

于2012~2013年5月、8月、10月份，对茅岭江入海口水质进行定点监测，通过分析该水域水体中总氮、总磷、无机氮、无机磷、化学需氧量、石油类等数据，研究该水域各水质指标的动态变化及趋势，并采用单因子评价法、氮磷比、富营养化指数法等方法对其结果进行水质分析和评价。结果表明：2012~2013年茅岭江入海口水质全年均有超标现象，其中总氮、总磷、石油类超标不严重，而无机氮和无机磷在2012年8月份和10月份超标最严重，超过了国家标准中的四类水质标准。2012~2013年茅岭江入海口水体氮磷比均处于不同程度的失衡状态，其中2012年各站位在5月份水体中磷是限制浮游藻类生长的主要因素，而2013年各站位水体中氮却成为了限制浮游藻类生长的主要因素。2012~2013年茅岭江入海口水体出现了不同程度的富营养化，其中2012年和2013年10月份富营养化程度最为严重，主要原因是水体COD含量严重超标，表明水体受到城镇生活污水及畜禽养殖业来源方面的有机物污染已经很严重。相关部门为此应制定好切实可行的方案，严格控制和治理茅岭江沿岸生活污水，生产废水和养殖废水的排放，降低各种人为因素对钦州茅岭江沿岸水质的影响与破坏。 In May, August and October from 2012 to 2013, the water quality of the Maolingjiang River inlet was monitored. The total nitrogen, total phosphorus, inorganic nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and petroleum data were analyzed in order to research the dy-namic changes and trends of the water quality indicators. Meanwhile, the single-factor evaluation, nitrogen and phosphorus ratio, eutrophication index methods were used to analyze and evaluate the water quality. The results showed that the water quality of the Maolingjiang River inlet ex-ceeded the standard throughout the year from 2012 to 2013, and the total nitrogen, total phos-phorus and petroleum excessive situations were not serious, but the inorganic nitrogen and inor-ganic phosphorus in August and October of 2012 exceeded more than the national standard and reached in the four level water quality standards. The nitrogen and phosphorus ratios in the Maolingjiang River inlet from 2012 to 2013 were all in different degree of imbalance. Among them, phosphorus was the main limiting factor of phytoplankton growth in May in 2012, but the nitrogen had become the limiting factor of phytoplankton growth in 2013. There were different degrees of eutrophication phenomena in the Maolingjiang River inlet from 2012 to 2013. Among them, the eutrophication phenomenon was the most serious in October in 2012 and 2013. The main reason is that the COD content in water is seriously exceeding the standard, which indicates that the water body is affected by urban sewage and the livestock and poultry breeding industry sources of organic pollution have been very serious. Relevant departments should formulate a practical program for the strict control of the domestic sewage, production wastewater and aquaculture wastewater emissions along the Maolingjiang River and reduce the human factors on the Maolingjiang River so as to decrease the impact of water quality and destruction.

Technology of anaerobic-aerobic purification of wastewater from nitrogen compounds after obtaining biogas

The technological parameters, by which the concentration of nitrogen containing compounds can be reduced to 75 % in the process of purification of the waste water from methane tanks after the process of the anaerobic fermentation of the poultry remainder were determined. The influence of the co­substrate structure on the change of the concentration of nitrogen compounds in wastewater in the process of obtaining biogas from the remainder was shown. The co­substrate, which contains more lignin, contributes to double increase in the content of ammonium ions, in relation to the substrates, the content of lignin in which does not exceed 25 %; besides, it does not increase the content of organic compounds in wastewater. The lower content of lignin leads to the fact that the content of organic substances in wastewater is 70 % higher. The technological parameters (time of hydraulic retention, the ratio of the flows in the process of wastewater purification) of the anaerobic­aerobic process of wastewater purification were defined. The obtained laboratory results provide an opportunity to develop the technology of the anaerobic fermentation of the wastes of livestock breeding industry with wastewater reusing in the technological process of anaerobic waste processing. This technology is attractive in cases when in the process of fermentation it is necessary to add water for bringing the content of the methane tank to the optimum humidity; the fermentation of poultry breeding wastes is a good example of such use.

Decomposition Analysis of COD and NH<sub>4</sub>-N Discharge Reduction of Livestock and Poultry Breeding Industry in China

In order to investigate the emission reduction mechanism for large-scale livestock and poultry breeding industry in China, the structure decomposition analysis model was built, and the total emission reduction effect, the scale effect, the structure effect and the technology effect were analyzed. The results indicate that the total emission reduction effect values of COD and NH4-N were-10.17% and-9.80% respectively, the absolute values of which were decreasing gradually from 2011 to 2013, indicating a decrease trend of the pollutants discharge but with the yearly declined reduction effect. The scale effect values of COD and NH4-N were both 0.32%, which implies the scale expansion of breeding restraining the emission reduction. The structural effect value were 0.99% and-1.91% respectively, namely the breeding structure does not promote the COD discharge reduction but benefits NH4-N discharge reduction. The technology effect values were-11.48% and-8.21% respectively, which means the technology effect is the main driver of COD and NH4-N discharge reduction, and the technology effect of discharge reduction for pig breeding is the key to the total technology effect; while the technology effect of beef cattle obviously restrains the discharge reduction, it is necessary to promote reduction projects and strengthen their surveillance.

Organisation of breeding under difficult framework conditions – the case of smallholder pig breeding in mountainous areas in Northwest Vietnam

Abstract. The concentration process in the international livestock breeding industry has led to an increasing competitive pressure for existing regional livestock breeding institutions. This represents an almost insuperable barrier for the competitive organisation of livestock breeding under difficult framework conditions, particularly in developing countries. The present study aimed at identifying possibilities how to develop the organisation of livestock breeding under difficult framework conditions, taking smallholder pig breeding in mountainous areas in Northwest Vietnam as example. Information was collected from group discussions with small-scale pig producers in Son La province and interviews in various private and public breeding institutions across northern Vietnam, complemented by information from documents. Results show that smallholder pig breeding is influenced by numerous external private and public factors, respectively institutions. These include small private boar keepers and medium-sized commercial pig farms at village and district level, but also globally acting private breeding companies and relevant legislations. Considering the identified institutional framework situation of smallholder pig breeding at village level and the generally positive attitude of smallholders towards cooperative structures, the establishment of boar keeper cooperatives is recommended as a first step in the development of a competitive breeding organisation at village level. Altogether, the current situation of smallholder pig breeding at village level makes the establishment of village breeding programmes reasonable, given a more rigorous implementation of supportive legislations that promote and recognise the self-determination of the proposed cooperative breeding organisations.

Ceftiofur-loaded PHBV microparticles: A potential formulation for a long-acting antibiotic to treat animal infections

Background: The infectious diseases in the livestock breeding industry represent a significant drawback that generates substantial economic loss and have led to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. The formulation of polymeric microparticles loaded with antibiotics for veterinary use can: reduce the number of required doses; protect the drug from inactivation; and maintain a sustained-release of the antibiotic drug at effective levels. Accomplishing all of these goals would have a significant economic and animal health impact on the livestock breeding industry. Results: In this work, we formulated ceftiofur-loaded PHBV microparticles (PHBV-CEF) with a spherical shape, a smooth surface and diameter sizes between 1.65 and 2.37 μm. The encapsulation efficiency was 39.5 ± 1.1% w/w, and we obtained a sustained release of ceftiofur in PBS-buffer (pH 7.4) over 7 days. The antibacterial activity of ceftiofur was preserved after the encapsulation procedure, and toxicity of PHBV-CEF microparticles evaluated by MTS was represented by an IC50 > 10 mg/mL. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PHBV-CEF particles have a potential application for improving the treatment of infectious diseases in the livestock breeding industry.

Application of aerobic biological filter for treating swine farms wastewater

In this paper, aerobic biological filter is applied to treat swine farms wastewater. Laboratory experiments are conducted to confirm the optimum parameters for start-up and operation of filter by investigating the effect of temperature on the start-up of the filter and the influence of temperature, pH value and recirculation rate on the treatment effect of the filter. The results show temperature increasing is benefit for accelerating start-up of filter in the range of 17.0-33.0°C. COD removal of the filter enhances slightly by temperature rising during normal operation. High NH3-N reduction (above 84.0%) is obtained in range of 25.0-30.0°C. pH in range of 7.1-8.0 is recommended for operation treatment, in which pollutants reduction for COD and NH3-N is 85.7%-86.9 and 86.8%-89.5%, respectively. COD and NH3-N reduction enhances with recirculation rate increasing. When the recirculation rate is above 4, the increasing of COD and NH3-N reduction is slight. Swine wastewater treatment project utilizing aerobic biological filter as a key element is established in a swine breeding farm of Daxing district, Beijing. The whole project runs well by start-up and operation of filter. COD reduction of wastewater in aerobic biological filter is 63.0-89.3%. And the COD concentration of effluent in filter is below 150mg/L, which achieves the national requirement of pollutants output standard of livestock and poultry breeding industry and water quality standard of farmland irrigation. The aerobic biological filter is worth to be generalized for treating swine wastewater in China.

Immediate impacts of the Wenchuan Earthquake on the prices and productions of grain and pork products

Based on field survey and statistical analysis, the immediate impacts of the Wenchuan Earthquake happened on May 12, 2008, are evaluated from two aspects, i.e., the influence on the prices and yields of grain and pork products in the local region and that on China. Wenchuan Earthquake, undoubtedly, has some negative effects on the local agricultural yields in Sichuan Province. It has caused immediate impacts on the grain and livestock breeding industry in the earthquake worst-hit counties. For example, due to the earthquake, the grain yields in Sichuan Province will decreased more than 0.4% and the pork productions decrease 5% at least. Thus, prices of grain and pork products are likely to rise in local mountainous areas over a short term. Our studying results that the disaster rate, the hazard rate and the complete loss rate of grain productions are 18%, 10% and 6% respectively in the earthquake worst-hit counties, while the disaster rate in the eastern plain areas even reach to 30%-49%. Even so, the results of model analysis for sample survey indicates that Wenchuan Earthquake has caused only marginal impacts on agricultural production, does not heavily hurt the stability of the prices and yields of grain and pork products at the national level. In other words,Wenchuan Earthquake had not affected the overall situation of national agricultural production. It is estimated that the reduction rate of national grain yield is as low as 0.006%, and the price changes of grain and pork products are no more than 0.5% and 2.2% respectively.

Update on Semen Technologies for Animal Breeding*

Despite the scale of the livestock breeding industry, where many millions of insemination doses are prepared each year, sperm preparation techniques are used infrequently in animal assisted reproduction compared with its human counterpart. However, some of the techniques used for human sperm preparation, for example, density gradient centrifugation, improve the quality of sperm preparations which is, in turn, reflected by an increased conception rate. The preparation technique separates motile spermatozoa with normal morphology and intact DNA from the total sperm population, leaving behind immature or senescent spermatozoa, morphologically abnormal ones and those with damaged DNA. Furthermore, the motile spermatozoa are removed from the seminal plasma which carries cells, cellular debris and reactive oxygen species, as well as pathogens. Gradient-prepared spermatozoa survive longer, either in liquid storage or when cryopreserved, and are free of bacteria and viral infectivity if prepared carefully. Preparation techniques such as density gradient centrifugation, or the simplified single layer centrifugation technique, have considerable potential for aiding sperm preparation from poor quality semen samples, such as may be obtained from unselected semen donors in captive breeding programmes, or from performance horses. Moreover, the removal of pathogens has important implications, both for disease control and for avoiding the use of antibiotics in semen extenders, which can be detrimental to sperm survival.