Can’t Get Rid of The Pig Odor? Major Ways to Address the Issue

While most of the details about pig odor are corporate secrets, we know that it is a problem that most pig farmers have to face and can be controlled to an extent. This blog focuses on why pig odor occurs and three major ways it can be prevented and controlled.

What causes pig odor?

Pig odor is attributed to different factors, but one key area lies in pig manure. Swine excreta is made up of concentrated gases such as nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorus, and sulfite (p-cresol) that explode to an awful smell upon mixing with other runoffs.

The runoff that acts as a secondary cause may include; waste for the slaughterhouse, slurry feed, or dripping water pipes, providing the basis for these gases to react. The animal welfare association highly discouraged the dump and wet conditions in a pen house.

However, is it not contradicting to say pigs are the “cleanest,” yet they stink?

Naturally, hogs have few sweat glands, which means they have to adopt other ways of cooling their body temperatures. The ultimate solution is to bathe in their slurry. The biological fact explains why you find pigs tunneling themselves on their waste, hence being stinky. If used to dirty pigs, it can be inconceivable to see hygienic pigs under controlled environmental conditions.

How to manage pig odor

Whether doing commercial or small-scale pig production, we can all agree that pig odor interferes with our air quality. So, what can one do as a producer to counter-interact the effects and improve on digital farming?

Let’s look at three primary ways you can apply to eliminate the odor.

1. Diet formulation

A research-based on pig nutrition and concerning odor emission recommends that the feeding of pigs should be in phases. Phase feeding simply means giving the required quantity of feeds to different age sets of pigs.

The research showed that if the keeper fed an exact amount of crude protein per pig’s requirements, pigs could bring down the production of ammonia and nitrogen. For phase feeding, separate the diet for pregnant sows, maintenance, growth, and lactating.

Crude protein, an essential component of a pig’s diet, results in the emission of nitrogen and ammonia gases at a higher rate. Replacing the crude protein with synthetic amino acids like lysine can significantly reduce the emission of nitrogen and ammonia.

In addition to diet, another approach is supplementation. Using probiotic supplements has been shown to reduce ammonia levels by 40%. The lactobacillus in the probiotics, together with the enzymes and yeast culture, helps break down the ammonia.

Other acceptable nutrition approaches may include;

• Feed grinding or pelleting to enhance digestibility.
• Provide clean drinking water low in sulfate and nitrate.
• Supplementing the ration with phytate enzyme to aid in phosphorus digestion.
• Give minimum sulfur-containing amino acids.
• Controlling dust in the ration by addition of oil and fat.

2. Siting /pen design and its management

Before settling on the chosen pen location, consider answering the following questions.

• How close is the pigpen to the residential area?
• What is the prevailing wind direction?
• How will routine removal of manure be done? Based on the topography of the land.

· What’s the number and weight of pigs proposed for rearing?

All the above questions will act as a guideline for constructing an odor-free pigpen. It’s always advisable to involve experts during the siting and construction process, for the correct decision-making and success of the project.

The pen design should facilitate easy cleaning and drying of the facility. Cemented floors are easier to clean and dry while slanted on one side. At the same time, clean floors discourage bacteria-causing odors.

The proposed structure should allow fresh air circulation. Fresh air should replace the air inside at least every few seconds, sweeping the odor on its way out. The outside air will dilute the stink minimally released from the inside.

3. Waste disposal and anaerobic lagoons management

One central area to focus your attention on during structure setup is anaerobic lagoon efficiency. Most farms tend to overlook the lagoon’s efficiency, focusing on the profit side. Well, setup lagoons promote odor-free surroundings at a farm setup.

A well-enclosed lagoon encourages anaerobic bacteria to accumulate, initiating the decomposition process.

Below are good practices to ensure your lagoon operates the right way.

· Encourage organic practices on the farm. Minimal to no use of antibiotics and heavy metal on the farm will encourage beneficial bacteria to accumulate in your lagoon.

· Always ensure your lagoon carries the recommended capacity. Avoid overloading, especially during rainy seasons.

· If the wind favors you and faces a non-residential direction, take advantage and agitate your lagoon. By doing so, beneficial bacteria are uniformly distributed.

· Prevent sled buildup by removing it after three to four years.

Remember, a hygienic pig equals a quality surrounding air

The odor from pig farms is a threat to the environment, and it’s up to you as a farmer to effectively control the emission.

Pig farmers can apply strategies to control odor destruction in the surroundings effectively. These means include; the pig’s diet formulation, pen siting/design, and waste disposal through an anaerobic lagoon.