Manure Gas Emissions Research Articles

The effect of benzoic acid with or without a direct-fed microbial on the nutrient metabolism and gas emissions of growing pigs.

Twenty-four gilts (PIC 337 × 1050, PIC Genus, Hendersonville, TN) with an initial body weight (BW) of 33.09 ± 1.33 kg were used to investigate the effects of benzoic acid (BA) and a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on the nutrient metabolism and manure gas emissions of growing pigs. Pigs were blocked by BW, placed into metabolism stalls, and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments: basal control (PC), low nitrogen (NC), PC plus 0.3% BA (PC+BA; VevoVitall, DSM Nutritional Products), and PC plus 0.3% BA and 0.025% DFM (PC+BA+DFM; PureGro, DSM Nutritional Products). Pigs were fed a common diet from day 0 to 14, and the experimental diets were fed in two phases (day 14 to 28 and day 28 to 53). The experiment consisted of four collection periods, with each period subdivided into two subperiods to collect samples for gas emissions and nutrient balance. Firstly, manure samples were collected for 72 h. Twice daily, urine and feces were weighed, and urine pH was measured. After each period, manure was subsampled and taken to the lab to measure gas emissions. Secondly, urine and feces were quantitatively collected for 96 h to allow for measurement of nutrient digestibility (ATTD) and retention. Data were analyzed as repeated measures in SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst., Cary, NC) with fixed effects of treatment, collection period, and block. Pig was the experimental unit, and results were considered significant at P ≤ 0.05 and a tendency at 0.05 < P ≤ 0.10. Pigs fed PC+BA had the greatest ADG compared to pigs fed NC (P = 0.016), with intermediate ADG for pigs fed PC or PC+BA+DFM (P ≥ 0.148). The ATTD of dry matter, gross energy, P, and N did not differ between treatments (P ≥ 0.093). However, the ATTD of Ca was reduced in pigs fed PC+BA+DFM compared to pigs fed PC+BA (P = 0.012). Pigs fed PC+BA or NC excreted less urinary N compared to PC and PC+BA+DFM (P ≤ 0.034), which contributed to greater nitrogen retention in PC+BA compared to PC (P = 0.016). Furthermore, decreased manure pH from pigs fed PC+BA or NC resulted in lower ammonia (NH3) emissions compared to pigs fed PC+BA+DFM or PC. There was no effect of dietary treatment on manure hydrogen sulfide, methane, or carbon dioxide emissions. In conclusion, supplementing 0.3% BA improved N retention and reduced manure pH and NH3 emissions, similar to feeding pigs low N, but improved the ADG of pigs when compared to feeding a low N diet.

55 The Effect of Feeding 0.3% Benzoic Acid to Growing Pigs, Alone or in Combination with a Direct-Fed Microbial, on Nutrient Metabolism and Manure Composition and Emissions Compared with a Low Protein Diet

Abstract Twenty-four gilts (PIC 337X1050, PIC Genus, Hendersonville, TN) with initial bodyweight (BW) 33.09±1.33kg were used to investigate the effects of benzoic acid (BA), with or without a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial (DFM), on the nutrient metabolism and gas emissions of growing pigs. Pigs were blocked by BW, placed into metabolism stalls, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: control (PC), low nitrogen (NC), PC plus 0.3% BA (VevoVitall, DSM Nutritional Products), and PC plus 0.3% BA and 0.025% DFM (PureGro, DSM Nutritional Products). The 54-d experiment consisted of 4 collection periods, with each period subdivided into 2 sub-periods to measure manure gas emissions and nutrient balance and digestibility. Gas emissions sub-periods lasted 72h. Twice daily, urine and feces were weighed, and urine pH was measured. Urine and feces were stored together and, after 5 d of storage, manure was subsampled and taken to the lab for gas emissions measurements. Urine and feces were quantitatively collected for 96h to measure nutrient digestibility (ATTD), excretion, and retention. Data were analyzed as repeated measures in SAS. Pig was the experimental unit, and results were significant at P ≤ 0.05. Pigs fed BA had greater ADG (922g/d) than pigs fed NC (849g/d), with intermediate ADG for PC (882g/d) or BA+DFM (906g/d). The ATTD of DM, GE, and CP was similar among treatments; however, pigs fed BA or NC excreted less nitrogen in urine than PC and BA+DFM, resulting in greater nitrogen retention in BA compared with PC. Decreased manure pH from pigs fed BA or NC resulted in lower NH3emissions compared with BA+DFM or PC. Manure H2S, CH4, and CO2 emissions were similar among treatments. In conclusion, BA improved nitrogen retention and reduced manure pH and ammonia emissions similarly to feeding low crude protein but improved ADG when compared with a low crude protein diet.

Swine diets impact manure characteristics and gas emissions: Part II protein source

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 NH3 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.

257 Effects of feeding different levels of quebracho (Schinopsis balansae) extract in a high-roughage total mixed ration on seasonal manure gas emissions

Abstract Our objective was to investigate how quebracho tannin (QT; Schinopsis balansae) fed at differing rates within a roughage-based diet affected manure gas emissions of growing steers. The utilization of ruminant species is required for efficient production of human-edible protein to meet global nutrient demands. However, gaseous byproducts from ruminant production systems, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are deleterious to the environment. It is estimated that CO2, CH4, and N2O from managed waste and grazed lands account for roughly 54% of emissions from the livestock sector within the United States, with approximately 80% being associated with beef and dairy cattle. Supplementation of condensed tannins is a plausible method for improving environmental efficiency through the mitigation of enteric CH4 and shifting route of N excretion. During two experimental periods, 12 crossbred steers (236 ± 16 kg) were fed a roughage-based diet at maintenance level with the addition of QT at 0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5% of DM serving as dietary treatments. Following adaptation, feces were collected and gas fluxes measured using vented static chamber technique with manure incubated on the soil surface at two locations, College Station and Stephenville, during two periods corresponding to winter and spring. The daily flux of CO2 was influenced by soil moisture and temperature (r = 0.34; P &amp;lt; 0.01), whereas CH4 and N2O were associated with soil moisture. Cumulative CO2 and gross CO2 equivalent (CO2e) exhibited a dietary treatment effect at College Station (P ≤ 0.01), with a linear reduction with increased dietary QT. At both locations, we observed significance or tendencies for period effects for CO2, CH4, N2O, and CO2e (P ≤ 0.07) with period 2 having higher gas production. Within certain environments, QT supplementation could potentially reduce manure gas emissions, but additional investigation into animal variation is required.

37 Effects of Feeding Different Levels of Quebracho (Schinopsis balansae) Extract in a High-Roughage Total Mixed Ration on Manure Gas Emissions.

37 Effects of Feeding Different Levels of Quebracho (Schinopsis balansae) Extract in a High-Roughage Total Mixed Ration on Manure Gas Emissions.

Effects of dirty housing and a Typhimurium DT104 challenge on pig growth performance, diet utilization efficiency, and gas emissions from stored manure.

The objectives of this study were to elucidate the effects of a dirty environment and a challenge plus associated environmental contamination on pig growth performance, diet utilization efficiency, and gas emissions (CO, NH, CH, NO, and HS) from stored manure. Twenty-four weaned barrows, aged 31 d at initiation of the trial, were randomly allotted to 3 different treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments were: pigs housed in cages with manure removed and cages washed daily (Clean); pigs housed in cages sprayed daily with manure slurry mixtures (Dirty); or pigs challenged with Typhimurium DT104 and housed in cages that were not washed, but manure was removed daily ( challenge). Rectal temperature, body weight, daily feed intake, manure output, manure composition, and gas emissions from stored manure were measured throughout the 24-d animal phase. The Dirty and challenge treatments were statistically compared to the Clean treatment to evaluate individual effects. Dirty housing tended to decrease ADG from d 1 to 24 ( = 0.06) but there were no other effects on pig performance compared with the Clean treatment. In contrast, a challenge was associated with a marked reduction in each of the measured indicators of pig performance. challenge increased the carbon to nitrogen ratio, ether extract, and lignin concentrations in excreted manure ( = 0.02, 0.01, 0.003, respectively), and increased manure and head space temperatures in manure tanks ( < 0.0001). Gas emissions from stored manure of pigs on the Dirty or treatments were increased for each of the measured gases as compared to the Clean treatment ( < 0.01) when expressed per unit of BW gain. When gas emissions from manure of pigs housed in the Dirty treatment were expressed per unit of manure volatile solids (VS), they were increased for NH, CH, and HS ( < 0.02). challenge was associated with increased emissions of CO, and NO and decreased emissions of HS per kilogram manure VS compared to the Clean treatment ( = 0.06, 0.03, 0.04, respectively). Collectively, these results indicated that a challenge and associated housing contamination caused depressed growth rate and increased manure gas emissions, while exposure to a Dirty environment slightly reduced growth performance and clearly increased manure gas emissions per unit of BW gain as compared to Clean control.

Effect of essential oils on ruminal fermentation and lactation performance of dairy cows

Three experiments (Exp.) were conducted to study the effects of dietary addition of an essential oil product (EO) based on eugenol and cinnamaldehyde (0, control, or 525mg/d of Xtract 6965; Pancosma SA, Geneva, Switzerland) on ruminal fermentation, total-tract digestibility, manure gas emissions, N losses, and dairy cow performance. In Exp. 1 and 3, the EO supplement was added to the vitamin-mineral premix. In Exp. 2, EO was top-dressed. Experiments 1 and 2 were crossover designs with 20 multiparous Holstein cows each (including 4 and 8 ruminally cannulated cows, respectively) and consisted of two 28-d periods. Intake of dry matter did not differ between treatments. Most ruminal fermentation parameters were unaffected by EO. Concentrations of ammonia (Exp. 1), isobutyrate (Exp. 1 and 2), and isovalerate (Exp. 1) were increased by EO compared with the control. Apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients was similar between treatments, except total-tract digestibility of neutral-detergent fiber, which was increased or tended to be increased by EO in Exp. 1 and 2. Manure emissions of ammonia and methane were unaffected by EO. Blood plasma and milk urea-N concentrations and urinary N losses were increased by EO compared with the control in Exp. 1, but not in Exp. 2. Average milk yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield, and milk fat, protein, and lactose concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Urinary excretion of purine derivatives, a marker for microbial protein production in the rumen, was greater in cows receiving the EO diet in Exp. 1, but not in Exp. 2. In Exp. 3, 120 Holstein cows were grouped in pens of 20 cows/pen in a 12-wk experiment to study production effects of EO. Dry matter intake, milk yield (a trend for a slight decrease with EO), milk components, milk urea N, and feed efficiency were similar between treatments. Results from these studies indicate that supplementing dairy cows with 525mg/d of Xtract 6965 had moderate effects on ruminal fermentation, but consistently increased ruminal isobutyrate concentration and tended to increase total-tract digestibility of neutral-detergent fiber. Under the conditions of these experiments, Xtract 6965 fed at 525mg/d did not affect milk production or composition.

Rumen fermentation and production effects of Origanum vulgare L. leaves in lactating dairy cows

A lactating cow trial was conducted to study the effects of dietary addition of oregano leaf material (Origanum vulgare L.; OV; 0, control vs. 500g/d) on ruminal fermentation, methane production, total tract digestibility, manure gas emissions, N metabolism, organoleptic characteristics of milk, and dairy cow performance. Eight primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows (6 of which were ruminally cannulated) were used in a crossover design trial with two 21-d periods. Cows were fed once daily. The OV material was top-dressed and mixed with a portion of the total mixed ration. Cows averaged 80±12.5 d in milk at the beginning of the trial. Rumen pH, concentration of total and individual volatile fatty acids, microbial protein outflow, and microbial profiles were not affected by treatment. Ruminal ammonia-N concentration was increased by OV compared with the control (5.3 vs. 4.3mM). Rumen methane production, which was measured only within 8h after feeding, was decreased by OV. Intake of dry matter (average of 26.6±0.83kg/d) and apparent total tract digestibly of nutrients did not differ between treatments. Average milk yield, milk protein, lactose, and milk urea nitrogen concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Milk fat content was increased and 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield tended to be increased by OV, compared with the control (3.29 vs. 3.12% and 42.4 vs. 41.0kg/d, respectively). Fat-corrected (3.5%) milk feed efficiency and milk net energy for lactation (NEL) efficiency (milk NEL ÷ NEL intake) were increased by OV compared with the control (1.64 vs. 1.54kg/kg and 68.0 vs. 64.4%, respectively). Milk sensory parameters were not affected by treatment. Urinary and fecal N losses, and manure ammonia and methane emissions were unaffected by treatment. Under the current experimental conditions, supplementation of dairy cow diets with 500g/d of OV increased milk fat concentration, feed and milk NEL efficiencies, and tended to increase 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield. The sizable decrease in rumen methane production with the OV supplementation occurred within 8h after feeding and has to be interpreted with caution due to the large within- and between-animal variability in methane emission estimates. The OV was introduced into the rumen as a pulse dose at the time of feeding, thus most likely having larger effect on methane production during the period when methane data were collected. It is unlikely that methane production will be affected to the same extent throughout the entire feeding cycle.