|
|
Discussion on Research Study: Mucking Stalls and Ammonia Concentrations
|
| Author |
Message |
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 2:22 am:
This was interesting as it found that completely cleaning stalls daily actually increased ammonia concentrations in the air. I presume that complete cleaning decrease the bacteria that breakdown ammonia to less harmful chemicals.
DrO
J Anim Sci. 2009 Jul 17.
Gas and particle concentrations in horse stables with individual boxes as a function of the bedding material and the mucking regime.
Fleming K, Hessel EF, Van den Weghe HF.
Department for Animal Sciences, Division Process Engineering, Georg-August University of Goettingen, D-49377 Vechta, Germany.
The aim of this study was to compare different types of bedding and mucking out regimes used in horse stables on the generation of particle matter (PM) 10 and 3 biogenic gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and especially ammonia). Three separate experiments were undertaken. The experiments were carried out in an enclosed stable (9.7 m long, 8.7 m wide and 3.5 m high) which had 5 single boxes housing 4 horses. The measuring instruments were set up in the middle of one side of the stable. In Exp.1, 3 types of bedding material (wheat straw, straw pellets, and wood shavings) used for horses were assessed according to their ammonia generation. Each type of bedding was used for 2 wk, with 3 repetitions. The mean ammonia concentrations within the stable were 3.07 +/- 0.23 mg/m(3) for wheat straw, 4.79 +/- 0.23 mg/m(3) for straw pellets and 4.27 +/- 0.17 mg/m(3) for wood shavings. In Exp. 2, the effects of the mucking out regime on the generation of ammonia and particles (PM10) from wheat straw (the bedding with the lowest ammonia generation in the previous experiment) were examined using 3 different daily regimes: (1) no mucking out, (2) complete mucking, and (3) partial mucking out - just removing feces. The mean ammonia concentrations in the stable differed significantly between all three mucking out regimes (P < 0.05). The highest values were recorded when the stalls were mucked out completely every day [least square means (LSM) = 2.25 +/- 0.1 mg/m(3)]. No mucking out resulted in a LSM of 1.92 +/- 0.1 mg/m(3), whereas a LSM of 1.54 +/- 0.1 mg/m(3) was found when the partial mucking out method was used. No mucking out also resulted in a significantly lower average PM10 (124.4 +/- 13.4 microg/m(3)) than in the other 2 variants (P < 0.05). In Exp. 3, a 6-wk bedding regime without mucking out was evaluated with regard to gas and airborne particle generation. The ammonia values were found not to constantly increase during the course of the 6-wk period. The average weekly values for PM10 also did not constantly increase but varied between approximately 90 and 140 microg/m. It can be concluded from the particle and gas generation patterns found in the results of all 3 experiments that wheat straw was the most suitable bedding of the 3 types investigated and that mucking out completely on a daily basis should not be undertaken in horse stables.
|
Member:
mrose
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 6:19 am:
Wouldn't results depend a lot on how much bedding was used? When we lived in Truckee, CA with it's very cold winters, we bedded deeply with straw - at least a foot of bedding. During the winter when we cleaned we removed manure and surface wet spots then added more clean straw. We never had smelly stalls. However, if we had used less straw and not added clean each day, I think they would have been really stinky.
I have noticed when you totally clean a stall (we now used shavings) the first thing a horse will do is run in and pee to mark the stall. Again, the amount of bedding really plays into this I'd think. If you have enough bedding so the wet sinks down to the bottom and the shavings on the top stay dry, there isn't any odor. If fewer shavings are used, you can smell the urine.
If you don't use a lot of bedding, as we don't in summer especially, stalls would reek and flies would be horrible if they weren't mucked out on a daily basis.
|
Member:
paardex
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 8:27 am:
Vechta is in the north of Germany and rather cold. I really wouldn't like the deep straw and other beddings so popular in Holland and Germany over here. I have seen quit a lot of studies though that claim that composting the manure in place[stable] gives the fastest and less smelly result though obviously a thick layer of bedding is required and usually you are supposed to either work it through to the extend that the horse doesn't lie in manure or put new bedding on top.
It claims to give a better bacterie life[?] Especially with chickens a lot of research was done on this.
But bacterylife or not I can vow that my horses preferred well ventilated stalls[preferably cleaned when they were outside] cleaned every day, especially 'clean horses'[the ones that put manure in one spot] got upset if the whole box was turned into a toilet.
Believe it or not I have known an old stallion who was supposed to adapt to the system that favors bacteria stop eating! He didn't want to eat on a place that was pooped on...[I might add that his upset owner didn't wait if he changed his mind for longer then a day or so ]
Jos
|
Member:
stek
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 11:07 am:
Very interesting. I would think the overall amount of ammonia would depend too on what mucking process was used.. I have always mucked out completely after the horses go out and left the entire stall 'up' so the wet spots were exposed and allowed to dry and air out, then the bedding is re-laid in before the horses come back to their stalls. I would be curious what process this study used.
I also wonder if with the complete mucking out the sensors were picking up more ammonia because it was getting aired out, meaning allowed to get out into the air (and hopefully moved out with ventilation before the horses came back in) whereas if it was left undisturbed none of it was reaching the air till the time you eventually have to strip the stall.
|
Member:
mrose
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 11:39 am:
I was wondering the same thing about the air, Shannon. Just makes sense to me.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 3:32 pm:
All good questions guys. There is a brief explanation in the summary of the bedding and mucking above. I get the impression from the summary the experiment was conducted with multiple air samplings that were averaged to decrease the effects of peaks that may occur during cleaning.
DrO
|
|
|
