Manure Odors from Livestock Operations Kenneth B. Kephart Professor of Animal Science Pennsylvania State University Complaints of odors generated by livestock operations have intensified in recent years as facilities have increased in size. Many volatile organic and inorganic compounds re leased from livestock operations, particularly swine facili ties, have objectionable odors. The amount and strength of the odor is influenced by: 1. The type of manure storage facilities. 2. How and when the manure is applied. 3. The presence of wet and dusty surfaces in the livestock facility. The Process and Perception of Smell Every odorant has a threshold concentration. Below this concentration, the odor compound can not be detected. The area of the brain that processes smell overlaps with the area that controls emotion. For this reason, unpleasant odors can affect mood, and may prompt unpleasant memories. In an odor study last summer, we asked neighbors living near swine operations to evaluate odor intensity daily over a six-week period. As expected, neighbors closer to the swine units, and those living to the east and south reported higher odor scores than those living further away, and to the north and west. But odor scores were also affected by a number of personal factors. X Wet cast with 1/2” welded rebar cage X Affordable Prices x 6 1/2 ” thick throughout the X High Quality X Heaviest cattle slat entire slat made in the area X 1 3/4" slot openings X Slow cured for extra strength LEBANON VALLEY ENTERPRISES, INC. Manufacturing • Powder Coating • Precast PO Box 187, Myerstown, PA 17067 • (717) 866-2030 For example, the following items tended to decrease odor scores recorded by neighbors: 1) If the neighbor knew the swine producer well. 2) If the farm was perceived as attractive. 3) If the neighbor’s self-reported health status was high. 4) If the swine facility was not visible from the home or road. Personal factors that had little or no impact on odor scores included: income, gender, age, education, whether the neighbor had been raised on a farm, length of time the neighbor had lived there, and the neighbor’s reported knowledge of swine production. Research conducted by Susan Schiffman at Duke Univer sity shows that the mood of people living near swine facili ties is negatively affected during the times they smell odors from the facility. During our odor study last summer, we compared re sponses of neighbors of swine operations to those of rural residents not living near large livestock facilities. Both groups reported identical overall health scores. But neigh bors indicated they experienced cough, nausea, fatigue, and throat irritation more often than did non-neighbors. There were no significant differences between the two groups in regard to frequency of headaches, muscular aches, chest TICO IRRIGATION SYSTEMS WE CAN HELP! CALL ANYTIME! OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK FREE ESTIMATES FREE ENGINEERING FINANCING AVAILABLE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY NEW & USED EQUIPMENT NEW! TICO/ABI ENGINE DRIVEN gSM HARD HOSE IRRIGATOR available In many sizes to automatically irrigate from 15 to 190 acres Quickly portable from area to area Hose lengths * Hj from 395 to 1940 ft Variable travel speed selection with automatic constant compensation provides uniform HK Irrigation over entire length of pess ACRES ACRES HOSE »RR IRR OPTIMUM IRR7WK IRR/RUN (D LENGTH WIDTH OPM MODEL . _ PRICE 17 120 1 46" 571' 150' 60 Micro 44 ,55,572 49 3 9 2 1 940' 200 125 63AT720 ! >12,280 41 5 49 21' 1150' 200 100 63AT1050 $16,890 49 4 6 239 990' 210* 130 70AT995 1116,990 50 4 6 2 5 930' 210' 150 75AT920 ! 117,213 69 3 5 3 30' 1000' 240' 200 90AT970 1120,150 67 2 5 9 3 0 1120’ 240' 200 90AT995 1121,950 61 7 0 3 0 1250' 240' 190 90AT1250 1126,350 907 69 375" 1160' 275' 275 110AT1050 1127,230 902 76 375" 1310' 260’ 275 110AT1190 $28,700 H 7 13 375' 1440’ 260' 275 110AT1312 .1 33,250 135 7 1 400 1200 300' 450 120AT1050 (33,180 171 7 5 4 20" 1150 300’ 500 125ATMS (33,680 •12 9 3 3 54" 1640 260' 260 110AT1510 (35,200 131 9 0 4 00" 1410 210' 400 120AT1250 (35,100 139 91 410' 1410 300' 400 125AT1250 $35,900 PUMP, Don’t Haul Your MANURE! WITH TICO IRRIGATION and WRIGHT-RAIN PUMPS you can pump and spread in one day what would take a week to haul, regardless of field conditions We can Design & Install All Types Of Irrigation Systems Solid Set & Frost Control, Trickle, Giant Sprinkler Wheel Row. Center Pivot, Hand Move. Liquid Manure (Or Waste Water Disposal) Virtually All Makes Of Used & New Pipe, Couplers, Fittings, Gaskets, Pumps & Sprinklers Are On-Hand & Ready For immediate Delivery TICO IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IRRIGATION HEADQUARTERS EASTERN UNITED STATES RT 13 WILLIAMSTOWN NY 13493* PHONE (315) 964-2214 or 800-813-8046 Response to Odors (Turn to Pago 36)
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