ARS | Publication request: Effect of bedding material on air quality of bedded manure packs in livestock facilities

Submitted to: Midwestern Section of the American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2011
Publication Date: March 21, 2012
Citation: Abatti, S., Spiehs, M.J., Brown Brandl, T.M., Miller, D.N., Parker, D.B. 2012. Effect of bedding material on air quality of bedded manure packs in livestock facilities. [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 90 (Supplement 2): (Abstract 334P).

Technical Abstract: Materials such as corn stover and wood chips are often used for bedding in livestock facilities. Bedding materials may affect air quality emissions from livestock facilities. The objective of this study was to determine how different bedding materials affect air quality. Beef manure from cattle fed a dry-rolled corn finishing diet was added to corn stover (CS), pine chips (PC), dry cedar chips (DCC), and green cedar chips (GCC) in lab-scaled bedded manure packs. Headspace concentrations were monitored for odorous volatile organic compounds (VOC), NH3, CO2, CH4, and N2O. Air samples were collected from the headspace of the bedded packs on d 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 for NH3, CO2, CH4, and N2O analyses and on d 0, 21, and 42 for VOC analyses. Concentrations of CO2 and N2O were similar among bedding materials (P = 0.17). Concentrations of CO2 and N2O increased throughout the 42 day study (P < 0.01). Methane was similar for all treatments except for PC, which was higher than all other treatments on d 35. Ammonia was highest in packs containing PC and lowest in packs with DCC and GCC (P < 0.01). Ammonia concentrations increased for all bedding materials to d 28 and then began to decline (P < 0.01). Sulfur-containing and aromatic VOC were similar for the two cedar products (P = 0.14), but concentrations of both VOC were higher in packs containing DCC compared to PC or CS (P < 0.01). Results of this study indicate that use of cedar products as bedding material may decrease NH3 concentration but will increase the concentration of odorous VOC compared to PC or CS.