Mitigating Particulate Matter Emissions of a Commercial Cage-free Aviary Hen House

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2018-01-01
Authors
Chai, Lilong
Xin, Hongwei
Wang, Yu
Oliveira, Jofran
Wang, Kailao
Zhao, Yang
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Xin, Hongwei
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
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Animal Science

The Department of Animal Science originally concerned itself with teaching the selection, breeding, feeding and care of livestock. Today it continues this study of the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans, with practical focuses on agribusiness, science, and animal management.

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The Department of Animal Husbandry was established in 1898. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Animal Science in 1962. The Department of Poultry Science was merged into the department in 1971.

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Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.

History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.

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1905–present

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  • Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)

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Animal ScienceAgricultural and Biosystems EngineeringEgg Industry Center
Abstract

Concerns over animal welfare among general public and marketing decisions have led to pledges by a number of U.S. food retailers and restaurants to source only cage-free (CF) eggs in the foreseeable future, e.g., by 2025. Compared to conventional cage production system, CF hen housing offers hens more space and opportunities to exercise their natural behaviors (e.g., perching, dust bathing, and foraging). However, CF housing poses many inherent environmental challenges, among which are high levels of particulate matter (PM) and ammonia (NH3). Spraying liquid agent (e.g., 125 mL m-2 per cm litter depth) has been shown to effectively mitigate the generation of PM by 60-70% from CF henhouse litter in our previous lab-scale tests. The objectives of this study were to verify the lab-study findings of PM reduction with liquid spray on a commercial CF farm and to evaluate the indoor air and litter quality before and after liquid spray. This field verification study was conducted with a commercial aviary CF house (50,000 laying hens, L×W×H = 154 × 21.3 × 3.0 m) in Iowa during winter of 2017-2018. A water sprinkling system was installed in half of the experimental henhouse in the length direction (treatment section), whereas the other half of the henhouse served as the control. In each trial, the spray dosage (125 mL H2O m-2 per cm litter depth) was adjusted according to the initial litter depth before the spray. A total of three trials were conducted in this study. Results show that the PM concentration was reduced by 37-51% PM in the commercial aviary henhouse. The lower reduction efficiency in the field than the values obtained in the lab tests was partially attributed to the fact that water spray was applied to only the open litter area, and the litter area under the aviary system was not sprayed. Adjusting spray dosage according to litter depth is necessary for maintaining a certain reduction efficiency. Litter moisture content of the treatment sections was 9-14% higher than control (i.e., 15.6% vs. 14% for Trial 1, 14.6% vs. 12.2% for Trial 2, and 17.7% vs. 14.9% for Trial 3), but NH3 concentrations in treatment and control were similar during the test.

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This proceeding is published as Chai, Lilong, Hongwei Xin, Yu Wang, Jofran Oliveira, Kailao Wang, and Yang Zhao. "Mitigating Particulate Matter Emissions of a Commercial Cage-free Aviary Hen House." ASABE Annual International Meeting, Detroit, MI, July 29-August 1, 2018. Paper No. 1800223. DOI: 10.13031/aim.201800223. Posted with permission.

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Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2018