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New livestock odour measurement paves way for effective management

Effective odour measurement technologies that will lead to a science-based tool for siting livestock operations will result in better livestock odour management, says a leading researcher.

"Alberta has all the necessary resources for a sustainable livestock industry," says Dr. John Feddes, who is leading a new livestock odour measurement and siting tool project at the University of Alberta. "But many growing industries encounter some resistance.

"We're hopeful that the development of measurement, monitoring and siting tools as part of this new project will eliminate some of that resistance," says Feddes. "Livestock operations will likely always generate some odour, but the key is to keep it at a reasonable level."

The three-year project is funded in part by the Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund (ALIDF) and the Alberta Agricultural Research Institute (AARI). Feddes is working with researchers at the University of Saskatchewan, the Alberta Research Council, and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and is also using international expertise.

In part one of the project, researchers sought a way to measure odour with confidence. With effective measurement achieved, effective odour control follows.

"It's difficult to measure odour accurately," says Feddes, "but there are international standards for measurement technology. We want to make sure our equipment meets those standards and that we're using proper techniques. We've already found that we meet European standards, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement."

With part one completed, researchers are now beginning part two, which involves the measurement of odour emission rates from various manure storage sites.

Researchers will determine how many odour units are emitted per second, per square metre of manure storage area. They will compare buildings, composting bins and storage containers used by different types of livestock operations. "That information allows us to move onto the last part of the project, which is, ultimately, the part with the most practical use," says Feddes.

Using odour emission rates from part two, researchers will work to reliably predict odour's impact on the area surrounding a livestock operation.

"Reliable predictions are needed in order to make the best possible siting decisions," says Feddes. "We will input odour frequency, intensity, duration and offensiveness, as well as emission rates, into various mathematical models and software programs to determine what odour exposure will be at various distances from the source. As a tool for siting livestock operations, this has numerous benefits."

Siting livestock operations based on scientifically proven odour emission data will help level the playing field between livestock operations so that all operations are working from the same consistent base of analysis, says Feddes. It will also be beneficial in improving relations between producers and their neighbours.

"There's a greater chance that we'll have happy neighbours once we're able to objectively analyze odour data and scientifically support what the rules are and should be," says Feddes.

The odour measurement and siting tool project is one of 18 new initiatives supported by ALIDF. In a related ALIDF project, Ike Edeogu of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is working with others to develop technologies that control livestock odour.

"Attitudes and perceptions about what is acceptable in the agriculture industry are evolving in many different directions," says Darcy Fitzgerald, the Fund's General Manager. "As livestock management methods change so too will the way we approach issues such as odour. Projects like this help us develop the appropriate tools to ensure we have accurate information on which to base our management decisions. ALIDF funds projects, such as Dr. Feddes', as part of an ongoing commitment by Alberta's livestock industry to be socially responsible and to develop accurate information."

ALIDF is one of six funding groups currently accepting agricultural research pre-proposals through a new online Internet process from August 1 through to October 11, 2002. For more information on how to apply for funding or for an outline of ALIDF's mandate and progress go to the ALIDF Web site at www.alidf.ca.

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