Submitted:

03 January 2025

Posted:

03 January 2025

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Abstract
Reducing odor and particulate matter (PM) in confined swine houses is critical for environmental sustainability and animal welfare. This study evaluated the effects of different housing designs and bedding systems on aerial environmental conditions in swine confinement facilities. Three experimental swine house models (M1, M2, and M3) were constructed with distinct ventilation and bedding configurations. M1 employed circulating airflow with negative pressure and a recirculating ventilation system. M2 featured a plug flow air pattern with negative pressure and a perforated plastic bed, while M3 utilized a sawdust bedding system with recirculating ventilation. Each model housed nine fattening swine in a 12 m² area, and the study was conducted over 110 days (May 6–August 26, 2018). Measurements included odorous compounds, volatile organic acids (VOA), and PM concentrations. Ammonia (NH₃) levels were highest in M1 (9.07 ppm) and lowest in M3 (5.94 ppm). Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) was undetectable in M3, while M1 and M2 recorded measurable levels. VOA concentrations were significantly lower in M3 (84.86 ppbv) compared to M1 (884.29 ppbv) and M2 (605.31 ppbv). PM10 levels exhibited notable variations, with concentrations of 115.25 μg/m³ in M1, 218.83 μg/m³ in M2, and 312.00 μg/m³ in M3. However, bacterial concentrations were highest in M3. The sawdust bedding system (M3) significantly reduced volatile fatty acids and odorous compounds compared to pit-based systems, while the ventilation system influenced odor control. Although M3 had higher PM levels, the findings emphasize the need for swine farming systems to balance environmental management with animal welfare considerations.
Keywords: 
Subject: 
Biology and Life Sciences  -   Agricultural Science and Agronomy
Copyright: This open access article is published under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, which permit the free download, distribution, and reuse, provided that the author and preprint are cited in any reuse.
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