Comparison of Volatile Organic Compound and Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration in Feces and Urine of Finishing Pigs

Abstract

This study was performed to compare the level of odorous compounds in feces and urine of finishing pigs. Feces and urine from 16 finishing pigs were separately collected for 28-d. Concentrations of volatile organic compound (VOC; phenols and indoles) and volatile fatty acid (VFA; SCFA and BCFA) were measured in feces and urine. Amount of phenols and p-cresol was higher (P<0.05) in urine than in feces. Urinal levels of phenols and p-cresol were 257.8 ppm and 250.9 ppm, and those of fecal phenols and p-cresol were 0.50 ppm and 0.05 ppm, respectively. There was no difference in concentration of indoles from feces (1.0 ppm) and urine (1.8 ppm). Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) level in urine was higher (P<0.05) than in feces showing 4,547 ppm and 863 ppm, respectively. Proportion of acetic acid to total SCFA was higher in urine (94%) than in feces (66%). However, level of branched fatty acid (BCFA) was greater in feces (118 ppm) compare to that of urine (87 ppm). Odorous compounds analyzed in the current study, phenols and SCFA, were contained more in urine than in feces. Greater amount of VFA is typically found in feces than in urine since it is generated in the large intestine. However, urine contained more VFA than feces in the current study. Therefore, it will be necessary to exploit odor reducing techniques especially for pig urine as grassland fertilizer.