Effects of a reduction of diet crude protein content on gaseous emissions from deep-litter pens for fattening pigs

Abstract

-Two successive batches of 32 fattening pigs per batch were each divided into 2 homogenous groups of 16 pigs fed either a high crude protein (CP) level diet (HP-groups) or a low crude protein level diet balanced with synthetic amino acids (LP-groups). Pigs were raised on strawbased deep litters in separate rooms according to diets. Once a month, the emissions of ammonia (NH 3 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), methane (CH 4 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water vapour (H 2 O) were measured continuously for 6 days consecutively. The mean nitrogen (N) intakes of pigs from HPgroups and LP-groups were 6.83 kg and 5.78 kg per pig respectively with mean initial and final pig body weights of 26.6 and 111.4 kg. There was no significant difference between the daily weight gains with regards to the diet CP content. At the end of the fattening periods, the N-contents of the litters were on average 1.84 kg per pig for the HP-groups and 1.56 kg per pig for the LP-groups. Gaseous emissions in the room with LP-groups were, compared with the emissions in the room with HP-groups, 26.1% lower for NH 3 (10.60 vs. 14.35 g per pig per day), 12.8% lower for CH 4 (13.12 vs. 15.04 g per pig per day) and 2 times higher for N 2 O (1.02 vs. 0.52 g per pig per day). The emissions of CO 2 and H 2 O were not significantly different according to the diet CP level.fattening pig / crude protein / ammonia / nitrous oxide / methane Résumé -Effets d'une réduction de la teneur en protéine brute de l'aliment sur les émissions de gaz associées à l'élevage de porcs charcutiers sur litières accumulées. Deux lots successifs de 32 porcs charcutiers par lot ont été chacun subdivisés en 2 groupes de 16 nourris soit avec un aliment à haute teneur en protéine brute (groupes HP) ou un aliment à faible teneur en protéine brute complémenté avec des acides aminés synthétiques (groupes FP). Les porcs ont été hébergés sur des litières accumulées de paille, dans des locaux distincts en fonction de l'aliment reçu.

Influence of pig rearing system on animal performance and manure composition

“…With a sawdust bedding, Groenestein and Van Faassen (1996) measured N emissions, as NH 3 and N 2 O, of 2.9 to 4.8 and, 4.8 to 7.2 g/pig per day, respectively. A higher NH 3 emission (12.5 g/pig per day) and a lower N 2 O emission (0.80 g/pig per day) were measured by Philippe et al (2006) for straw bedding. Ammonia emission from the outdoor exercise area was not measured in the present experiment.…”

Effects of available surface on gaseous emissions from group-housed gestating sows kept on deep litter

“…On slatted floor, cited values range from 5 g to 15 g NH 3 -N/day per sow (Groot Koerkamp et al, 1998;Groenestein et al, 2003). Whatever the floor type, numerous factors can influence NH 3 -emissions, like feeding management, interior climate, season and waste treatment (Harper et al, 2004;Philippe et al, 2006 and. Furthermore, for litter systems, properties of bedding materials carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio; carbon availability, pH value and physical structure, among others) affect volatilization (Jeppsson, 2002).…”

Methane and nitrous oxide emission from livestock manure

“…Külling et al (2001) reported decreased N 2 O emissions from storage manure of dairy cows fed lowprotein diets, but the total GHG emissions were not affected as there was an increased CH 4 emission from the low protein manure. Velthof et al (2005) observed large decrease in the NH 3 and CH 4 emissions during manure storage and N 2 O emission from soilby by decreasing the protein content of swine diets whereas reverse effect on N 2 O emissions was reported in swine (Philippe et al, 2006) and dairy cattle (Arriaga et al, 2010) on lowering the dietary protein. Shifting N losses from urine to faeces is expected to reduce N 2 O emissions from manure applied soil due to the lower concentration of NH 4 + in manure.…”