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Application of straw as bedding increases welfare of pigs, but requires a slurry system that can handle slurry with a straw content. A new slurry system has been developed for slurry with straw content, where U-shaped slurry trays were scraped mechanically or flushed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the slurry system on the emission of ammonia and odorants in pig houses for growing-finishing pigs (30–110 kg). Experimental pig houses with two pens of 15 pigs each and with flooring that was 2/3 slatted and 1/3 solid were used. Ammonia was measured during the whole production period (76 days), and odorants were measured over nine days in the middle of the period.
The results showed that during the first 2/3 of the production period, the ammonia emission from the pig houses with U-shaped slurry trays with scraping or flushing was approximately 50% lower than that from the control pig houses. During the last 1/3 of the production period, the effect on ammonia emission was less. The overall effect of U-shaped slurry trays with scraping or flushing was ammonia reduction of approximately 35–40%. The odour emission (as odour activity values based on threshold values for individual odorants) from pig houses with U-shaped trays with scraping or flushing was approximately 40% lower than that for the control pig houses.
In conclusion, U-shaped slurry trays with flushing or scraping can handle slurry with a high amount of straw and their use can reduce the emissions of ammonia and odour from pig houses.
Hansen MJ, Kamp JN, Adamsen APS, Feilberg A. Low-emission slurry pits for pig houses with straw application. Biosystems Engineering. 2020; 197: 56-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.06.003
