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The purpose of the Air Management Practices Assessment Tool (AMPAT) is to provide an objective overview of mitigation practices  best suited to address odor, emissions and dust at your livestock operation so that livestock and poultry producers may compare and narrow their options of mitigation techniques. Practices are divided into three categories by source: 1) Animal Housing; 2) Manure Storage & Handling; and 3) Land Application. Each mitigation practice has an individual page which includes a printable fact sheet and a short online slide presentation.

Urine / Feces Segregation

Application: used within buildings to reduce emission of odors and gases from the building and manure storage

Pros

  • Improved air quality within the building for animals.
  • Potential to increase nitrogen retention in liquid.
  • Separation of nitrogen and phosphorus may have benefits.

Cons

  • Difficult to incorporate into an existing building.
  • Two waste streams must be handled.
  • Equipment sources are not well developed.
  • Maintenance could be a challenge.

Description

Definitions

Ammonia: Ammonia is a colorless, pungent, nitrogenous gas. It volatilizes from a solid or liquid material when the ammonium ion is present and other physical conditions exist. Ammonia gas can react in the atmosphere with gaseous acidic species to form fine particulates (ammonium [NH4+] aerosols), which are a health concern. Atmospheric NH3 can be deposited during rain events and lead to soil acidification and increased concentrations of nitrogen in surface waters, potentially contributing to eutrophication.

Diet Manipulation

Application: used for building ventilation air and manure storage emission

Pros

  • Easily implemented when done in consultation with a nutritionist.
  • Many options impact multiple emissions.
  • Changes may cost very little.

Cons

  • Additive and feedstuff availability and costs may fluctuate.
  • Nutritional needs change as the pig grows and may lead to more complex feed choices.
Figure 1. Avoid providing excess nutrients.

Aeration

Application: used to reduce ammonia, methane, and odor emissions from manure storages

Pros

  • Proven technology from municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
  • Extremely effective for odor control.

Cons

  • Energy intensive to provide sufficient aeration.
  • Maintenance and performance of the system during winter months.
  • Typically cause loss of nitrogen.
  • Higher sludge generation in the storage.

Description

Anaerobic Digestion

Application: used to stabilize liquid manure, reduce odors, and potentially create methane rich biogas that can be used for heat and power

Pros

  • Can be used on highly concentrated manures.
  • Can be utilized to generate heat or electricity.

Cons

  • Anaerobic lagoons require large amounts of land and result in substantial loss of nitrogen.
  • Anaerobic digesters are expensive to install and maintain.

Description

Composting

Application: used as a treatment for solid manure to reduce odor and increase nutrient density

Pros

  • Appropriate for solid manure.
  • Reduces flies.
  • Reduces pathogens in the manure.

Cons

  • Only appropriate for solid manure.
  • Added costs in infrastructure and time for management.
  • Can result in nitrogen loss.

Description

Manure Additives

Application: to reduce emission of odors and gases from the manure storage by altering the manure’s chemical or microbial properties

Pros

  • Can be implemented with little change to current manure system.

Cons

  • Typically little scientific information on performance of additives.

Description

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