Research/Dust and odour emissions from poultry sheds
From Poultry Hub
Project Leader: Mark Dunlop at QDPI&F funded by Poultry CRC (Project 04-45)
Duration of Project: 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008
Contents |
Project overview
In Australia, factors such as local planning processes, urban encroachment into rural areas and intensification of the poultry industry have increased the potential for odour and dust nuisance. Limited estimates of odour and particulate emissions for mechanically ventilated poultry housing systems exist for Australian conditions. This has made the poultry industry vulnerable to unsubstantiated criticism.
Four organisations are participating in this project:
- DPI&F (Queensland) (project leader, odour measurement), Mark Dunlop, Jae Ho Sohn, Erin Gallagher
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT) (particulate measurement), Zoran Ristovski
- University of New South Wales (UNSW) (volatile organic compound analysis and microbiological analysis of litter), Richard Stuetz, Gavin Parsci, Sania Wadud, and
- Victorian DPI (sensor networks for in-shed measurement and assisting in odour measurement) Ian McCauley, Karen Moore and Patrick Daniel.
Project objectives
- Develop an odour and dust emission database;
- Identify and quantify specific poultry shed odorants;
- Develop a model to describe odour and dust emissions from broiler sheds; and
- Develop cost-effective, novel instrumentation and data management techniques to estimate dust and odour emissions from commercial poultry farms.
Project progress
Researchers from DPI&F (Queensland), UNSW and QUT developed methods for sampling odour, dust and volatile organic materials during 2005, while researchers from DPI Vic independently developed sensors to continuously monitor the shed environment.
Measurement of dust, odour volatile chemical emissions and shed litter moisture distribution at meat chicken facilities commenced in November 2005. An “electronic nose” (developed by DPI&F (Queensland)) was deployed in June 2006 to continuously assess odour emissions from the shed used in Queensland. Fan monitoring equipment was installed to improve understanding of shed air dynamics. Sampling has been completed for a summer and winter batch in both Queensland and Victoria. Changes in odour, dust and volatile chemical emissions were investigated for each individual batch, as were the differences between states and seasons. Relationships between dust and odour concentrations were also investigated, as was the stability of odour samples.
Sampling has been completed at a Queensland meat chicken farm that undertakes partial litter reuse. Two sequential batches were monitored; the first with birds grown on fresh litter; and the second with birds grown on partially reused litter. Differences between the two batches in terms of odour concentration, litter moisture, chemical composition of the emissions, and microbial populations have been investigated.
The egg section of the project involves collecting 4 weeks data from two manure belt tunnel ventilated layer sheds – a Victorian and a Queensland farm over summer and winter. Work at both the Queensland and Victorian farms has been completed.
The project team is now focussing on data analysis and drafting of the final report.
For further details contact Mark Dunlop
- Email mark.dunlop@dpi.qld.gov.au
- Ph. 07 4688 1280
