Effect of Diet Composition on Excreta Composition and Ammonia Emissions from Growing-Finishing Pigs

• Published in: Animals (Basel) 2022-01, Vol.12 (3), p.229
• Main Authors: Le Dinh, Phung, van der Peet-Schwering, Carola M C, Ogink, Nico W M, Aarnink, André J A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidification; Air quality management; Amino acids; Ammonia; ammonia emission; Animal manures; Animals; Benzoic acid; Bills, Legislative; Body weight; Calcium carbonate; Chromatography; Composition effects; Diet; dietary manipulation; Electrolytes; Emissions; excreta composition; Experiments; Feces; Feeds; Finishing; growing and finishing pigs; Hogs; Houses; Livestock; Manures; Pork industry; Proteins; Swine; Swine production; Urine; Ventilation
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani12030229

This study aimed to investigate the impact of decreased crude protein (CP) levels (by 2% units) or acidifying diets (by adding 10 g benzoic acid/kg diet in combination with replacing a part of CaCO by about 10 g Ca-formate/kg diet) on urine, feces and manure composition and ammonia emissions from growing and finishing pig houses. Yorkshire x F1(Landrace x Yorkshire) pigs (n = 576) with an initial body weight of 24.9 ± 3.4 kg were randomly allocated to four treatments of (i) a control diet with normal protein content and no acidifying components added; (ii) a diet with 2% units CP reduction; (iii) a diet with an acidifying effect on the manure; (iv) or a diet consisting of a combination of diet (ii) and (iii). Pigs were housed in four mechanically ventilated and temperature-controlled rooms. Results showed that decreasing the dietary CP levels by 2% units reduced the ammonia emission from the floor by 46% ( = 0.06) and from the pig house by 31% ( = 0.08). Decreased CP diets reduced the total N in feces and in manure and NH -N in the manure, as well as the ammonia concentration at 1 cm and 10 cm above the manure surface ( < 0.05). However, acidifying diets failed to reduce ammonia emissions from the floor and the pig house ( > 0.05). Reducing dietary crude protein is, therefore, a solution to reducing ammonia emissions from pig houses.