Control of particulate matter emissions from poultry and pig houses

Los alojamientos ganaderos, especialmente avícolas y porcinos, son una fuente importante de material particulado ("particulate matter", PM). Las concentraciones elevadas de PM en el ambiente pueden afectar a la salud de las personas y animales, así como al medio ambiente. La mejor manera de reducir las emisiones de PM de los alojamientos ganaderos es evitar que éste se genere y así, controlando el PM en origen, no sólo se pueden reducir las emisiones, sino también mejorar la calidad del aire en el interior de los alojamientos ganaderos. Por otra parte, para evaluar la posible exposición al PM por un lado, y para desarrollar medidas para reducirlo, por otro, es necesario conocer la morfología y composición de las partículas. En consecuencia, el objetivo de esta tesis fue identificar y caracterizar el origen del PM en diferentes sistemas de alojamientos ganaderos y evaluar técnicas de reducción de dicho PM en relación con otros contaminantes. La tesis está compuesta por cuatro trabajos de investigación y una revisión previa, sobre el estado de la cuestión del PM en los sistemas de producción ganaderos, que establece el marco del trabajo experimental. En primer lugar, se muestrearon fuentes conocidas de PM en alojamientos ganaderos que fueron aerosolizadas experimentalmente en un generador de polvo de laboratorio para recoger muestras de PM fino y grueso. Estas muestras fueron analizadas posteriormente mediante: i) microscopía electrónica de barrido con un espectrómetro de rayos X para obtener una caracterización morfológica y química detallada de las fuentes; ii) mediante un contador óptico de partículas para obtener la distribución por tamaños de cada fuente. En segundo lugar, se investigaron las características más adecuadas de las partículas para distinguir entre las distintas fuentes en base a la caracterización de las mismas anteriormente obtenida y a las características morfológicas obtenidas con análisis digital de imagen. En su conjunto, se puede concluir de manera genérica que los resultados presentados en esta tesis contribuyen a proporcionar unas herramientas básicas que permitirán diseñar unas medidas de reducción de PM en origen mejores y más eficientes y, paralelamente, a predecir su funcionamiento.Cambra López, M. (2010). Control of particulate matter emissions from poultry and pig houses [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/8501Palanci

Characterization of the indoor environment and gas emissions in rabbit farms

[EN] There is a need to characterize gas concentrations and emissions from rabbit production. A study was conducted in order to determine ammonia, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide concentrations and emissions in three rabbit farms in the Spanish Mediterranean area. Gas emissions were measured for 187 days in two different production stages (reproductive does and fattening rabbits). Gas concentrations were measured every two hours. Indoor temperature, relative humidity and ventilation flow were measured hourly. As a result, indoor temperature and relative humidity varied throughout the year, following a sinusoidal daily variation pattern. Maximum gas concentrations (14.3 mg/m3 of NH3, 7041 mg/m3 of CO2 and 5.10 mg/m3 of N2O) did not exceed the maximum recommended thresholds considering human health and animal welfare. Ammonia emissions were on average 55.9 and 10.2 mg/h per reproductive doe and fattening rabbit, respectively, and they were affected by temperature and relative humidity. The average carbon dioxide emission was 12588 mg/h per animal for does and 3341 mg/h for fattening rabbits. Nitrous oxide emission from does was 10.3 mg/h per animal, whereas for fattening rabbits the emission was negligible. Daily variation patterns of all measured parameters were observed and characterised in this study.The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project GasFarm AGL2008-04125) for the economic support to conduct this study. Acquisition of the gas analyser was co-financed by the Generalitat Valenciana (Conselleria de Empresa, Universidad y Ciencia) and FEDER funds.Calvet Sanz, S.; Cambra López, M.; Estellés Barber, F. (2011). Characterization of the indoor environment and gas emissions in rabbit farms. World Rabbit Science. 19(1). https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2011.802SWORD19

Morphology, chemical composition, and bacterial concentration of airborne particulate matter in rabbit farms

[EN] Livestock houses are major sources of airborne particulate matter (PM), which can originate from manure, feed, feathers, skin and bedding and may contain and transport microorganisms. Improved knowledge of particle size, morphology, chemical and microbiological composition of PM in livestock houses can help identify major sources of PM and contribute to the development of appropriate source- specific reduction techniques. In rabbit production systems, however, there is limited information on specific particle characteristics. The objective of this study was to characterise airborne PM in rabbit farms in terms of morphology, chemical compositions and bacterial concentration in different size fractions. Size-fractioned PM was sampled in the air of 2 rabbit farms, 1 for fattening rabbits and 1 for reproductive does, using a virtual cascade impactor, which simultaneously collected total suspended PM (TSP), PM10 and PM2.5 size fractions. Airborne PM samples were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Representative samples from potential sources of PM were also collected and examined. Additionally, a methodology to extract bacteria from the collected samples of airborne PM was developed to determine the bacterial concentration per PM size fraction. Results showed that airborne PM in rabbit farms is highly complex in particle morphology, especially in size. Broken skin flakes, disintegrated particles from feed or faecal material from mechanical fracture are the main sources of airborne PM in rabbit farms. Major elements found in rabbit airborne PM were S, Ca, Mg, Na and Cl. Bacterial concentrations ranged from 1.7¿104 to 1.6¿106 colony forming units (CFU)/m3 (TSP); from 3.6¿103 to 3.0¿104 CFU/m3 (PM10); and from 3.1¿103 to 1.6¿104 CFU/m3 (PM2.5). Our results will improve the knowledge on essential particle characteristics necessary to understand PM¿s origin in rabbit farms and contribute to its reduction.The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the economic support to conduct this study (Project GasFarm AGL2009-0067) and the Campus de Excelencia Internacional of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. The authors are also grateful to the farmers and staff at the farms who collaborated during sampling periods. We thank the Electronic Microscopy Service (Universitat Politecnica de Valencia) for expert technical assistance during SEM analysis.252Adell Sales, E.; Estellés Barber, F.; Torres, AG.; Cambra López, M. (2012). Morphology, chemical composition, and bacterial concentration of airborne particulate matter in rabbit farms. World Rabbit Science. 20(4). doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1211SWORD24120

Particulate matter concentrations and emissions in rabbit farms

[EN] The extent of the potential health hazards of particulate matter (PM) inside rabbit farms and the magnitude of emission levels to the outside environment are still unknown, as data on PM concentrations and emissions in and from such buildings is scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify airborne PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations and emissions on two rabbit farms in Mediterranean conditions and identify the main factors related with farm activities influencing PM generation. Concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were determined continuously using a tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) in one farm with fattening rabbits and one reproductive doe farm in autumn. At the same time as PM sampling, the time and type of human farm activity being performed was recorded. Additionally, temperature, relative humidity and ventilation rate were recorded continuously. Emissions were calculated using a mass balance on each farm. Results showed PM concentrations in rabbit farms are low compared with poultry and pig farms. Average PM10 concentrations were 0.082±0.059 mg/m3 (fattening rabbits), and 0.048 ±0.058 mg/m3 (reproductive does). Average PM2.5 concentrations were 0.012±0.016 mg/m3 (fattening rabbits), and 0.012±0.035 mg/m3 (reproductive does). Particulate matter concentrations were significantly influenced by the type of human farm activity carried out in the building rather than by animal activity. The main PM-generating activity on the fattening rabbit farm was sweeping, and the major PM-generating activity in reproductive does was sweeping and burning hair from the cages. Average PM10 emissions were 5.987±6.144 mg/place/day (fattening rabbits), and 14.9±31.5 mg/place/day (reproductive does). Average PM2.5 emissions were 0.20±1.26 mg/place/day (fattening rabbits), and 2.83±19.54 mg/place/day (reproductive does). Emission results indicate that rabbit farms can be considered relevant point sources of PM emissions, comparable to other livestock species. Our results improve the knowledge on factors affecting concentration and emissions of PM in rabbit farms and can contribute to the design of suitable PM reduction measures to control not only PM inside rabbit houses, but also its emission into the atmosphere.The authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the economic support to conduct this study (Project GasFarm-2 AGL2008-04125) and the Campus de Excelencia Internacional of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. The authors are also grateful to the farmers and staff at the farms who collaborated during sampling periods.Adell Sales, E.; Calvet Sanz, S.; Torres, AG.; Cambra López, M. (2012). Particulate matter concentrations and emissions in rabbit farms. World Rabbit Science. 20(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2012.1035SWORD11120

Criteria for efficient prevention of dissemination and successful eradication of Erwinia amylovora (the cause of fire blight) in Aragón, Spain

Erwinia amylovora was detected on pome fruits in the Aragón region (North-Eastern Spain), in a ca. 5 km radius area located in the mid Jalón river (mid Ebro Valley) in the province of Zaragoza, during 2000‒2003. Eight years have now passed since this pathogen was last detected, without new infections being reported in the same area. The bases for surveys and rapid eradication performed have been analyzed in detail to understand the reasons for the success in removing fireblight. The results demonstrate that intensive surveillance, risk assessment, plant analyses using accurate identification methods, and, especially, rapid total or selective eradication of infected trees in the plots have been very effective in preventing the generalized spread of fireblight and in delaying economic losses associated with this disease. Eradication and compensation to growers, estimated to cost approx. € 467,000, were clearly counterbalanced by the economic value of apple and pear production in the 2000‒2003 period (approx. € 368 million). Fire blight risk-assessment, using the MARYBLYT system, showed that climatic conditions in the studied area were favourable to infections during the analyzed period (1997‒2006). Molecular characterization of E. amylovora strains had revealed their homogeneity, suggesting that these fire blight episodes could have been caused by just one inoculum source, supporting the hypothesis that there was a unique introduction of E. amylovora in the studied area. Spatial spread of E. amylovora to trees was analyzed within six orchards, indicating an aggregated distribution model. This Spanish experience demonstrates the success of scientifically-based prevention methods that lead to the deployment of a fast and strict containment strategy, useful for other Mediterranean areassurveysrisk-assessmentspatial analysisstrain characterizationPublishe

Innovative tools for detection of plant pathogenic viruses and bacteria

Detection of harmful viruses and bacteria in plant material, vectors or natural reservoirs is essential to ensure safe and sustainable agriculture. The techniques available have evolved significantly in the last few years to achieve rapid and reliable detection of pathogens, extraction of the target from the sample being important for optimising detection. For viruses, sample preparation has been simplified by imprinting or squashing plant material or insect vectors onto membranes. To improve the sensitivity of techniques for bacterial detection, a prior enrichment step in liquid or solid medium is advised. Serological and molecular techniques are currently the most appropriate when high numbers of samples need to be analysed. Specific monoclonal and/or recombinant antibodies are available for many plant pathogens and have contributed to the specificity of serological detection. Molecular detection can be optimised through the automatic purification of nucleic acids from pathogens by columns or robotics. New variants of PCR, such as simple or multiplex nested PCR in a single closed tube, co-operative- PCR and real-time monitoring of amplicons or quantitative PCR, allow high sensitivity in the detection of one or several pathogens in a single assay. The latest development in the analysis of nucleic acids is microarray technology, but it requires generic DNA/RNA extraction and pre-amplification methods to increase detection sensitivity. The advances in research that will result from the sequencing of many plant pathogen genomes, especially now in the era of proteomics, represent a new source of information for the future development of sensitive and specific detection techniques for these microorganisms

Desarrollo de las competencias transversales en los estudios de ingeniería agronómica: resultados de 5 años de seguimiento

[EN] This study covers 5 years of systematic surveys of self-perception of students about some core skills. The study incudes all students of 3rd year of Agricultural Engineering (currently Graduate on Agricultural and Rural Engineering), during the subject “Technologies of animal production”. The main objective was to gather information in order to design specific activities for developing core skills during this subject. We also tried to identify changes occurred in the students during the transition to the new study plans. After several courses conducting informal surveys, from course 2010-2011 a common survey model was answered by the students. The survey consists of 27 questions on a Likert scale of 5 levels. As a result, and considering the limitations of this kind of surveys, a general overview of the evolution of different skills was obtained. The results of this survey were essential to properly design the subject during this transition to the new plans. According to the survey results, we covered some detected deficiencies (e.g. use of AutoCad) and this contributed to maintain very positive subject indicators: approval rate over 80% and positive evaluation (between 8 and 9) by students in official surveys[ES] Este estudio recoge los resultados de 5 años de encuestas sistemáticas de autopercepción del alumno sobre determinadas competencias transversales. El estudio incluye todos los alumnos de 3er curso de Ingeniero Agrónomo (actualmente, graduado en Ingeniería Agronómica y del Medio Rural), cursando la asignatura “Tecnología de la Producción Animal”. El objetivo inicial era disponer de información para diseñar las actividades de adquisición de competencias transversales en la mencionada asignatura, reflejando además los cambios derivados del proceso de adaptación al nuevo grado. Tras varios cursos realizando encuestas informales, desde el curso 2010-2011 y hasta la actualidad se ha mantenido el mismo modelo de encuesta basado en 27 preguntas valoradas con escala Likert de 5 niveles. Como resultado, y considerando las correspondientes limitaciones de las encuestas de autopercepción, se ha obtenido una visión general de la evolución de distintas competencias transversales en los últimos 5 años. Además, los resultados de dichas encuestas han sido esenciales para planificar la asignatura en el proceso de cambio a los grados, cubriendo deficiencias detectadas (p.ej. redacción de informes o uso de AutoCad), y contribuyendo a mantener unos indicadores muy positivos (tasa de aprobados superior al 80%, valoración de las encuestas oficiales a los alumnos sobre el profesorado cercana a 9).Calvet Sanz, S.; Cambra López, M.; Estellés Barber, F. (2015). Desarrollo de las competencias transversales en los estudios de ingeniería agronómica: resultados de 5 años de seguimiento. En In-Red 2015 - CONGRESO NACIONAL DE INNOVACIÓN EDUCATIVA Y DE DOCENCIA EN RED. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2015.2015.1612OC

Biomarkers and De Novo Protein Design Can Improve Precise Amino Acid Nutrition in Broilers

[EN] Almost half of the protein ingested by broilers is not retained and is excreted, impairing the nitrogen utilization, health and productivity of the animals, and intensifying the environmental impact of poultry meat production. This work proposes two potential tools, combining traditional nutrition with biotechnological, metabolomics, computational and protein engineering knowledge, which can contribute to improving precise amino acid nutrition in broilers in the future: (i) the use of serum uric nitrogen content as a rapid biomarker of amino acid imbalances, and (ii) the design and modeling of de novo proteins that are fully digestible and fit exactly to the animal's requirements. Both tools can open up new opportunities to form an integrated framework for precise amino acid nutrition in broilers, helping us to achieve more efficient, resilient, and sustainable production. This information can help to determine the exact ratio of amino acids that will improve the efficiency of the use of nitrogen by poultry. Precision nutrition in broilers requires tools capable of identifying amino acid imbalances individually or in groups, as well as knowledge on how more digestible proteins can be designed for innovative feeding programs adjusted to animals' dynamic requirements. This work proposes two potential tools, combining traditional nutrition with biotechnological, metabolomic, computational and protein engineering knowledge, which can contribute to improving the precise amino acid nutrition of broilers in the future: (i) the use of serum uric nitrogen content as a rapid biomarker of amino acid imbalances, and (ii) the design and modeling of de novo proteins that are fully digestible and fit exactly to the animal's requirements. Each application is illustrated with a case study. Case study 1 demonstrates that serum uric nitrogen can be a useful rapid indicator of individual or group amino acid deficiencies or imbalances when reducing dietary protein and adjusting the valine and arginine to lysine ratios in broilers. Case study 2 describes a stepwise approach to design an ideal protein, resulting in a potential amino acid sequence and structure prototype that is ideally adjusted to the requirements of the targeted animal, and is theoretically completely digestible. Both tools can open up new opportunities to form an integrated framework for precise amino acid nutrition in broilers, helping us to achieve more efficient, resilient, and sustainable production. This information can help to determine the exact ratio of amino acids that will improve the efficiency of the use of nitrogen by poultry.Cambra López, M.; Marín-Garcia, PJ.; Lledó, C.; Cerisuelo, A.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2022). Biomarkers and De Novo Protein Design Can Improve Precise Amino Acid Nutrition in Broilers. Animals. 12(7):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1207093511612

Size Distribution of Airborne Particles in Animal Houses

[EN] The concentration and size distribution of airborne particles were measured inside and outside typical animal houses such as broilers, broiler breeders (both floor housing with litter); layers (floor housing system and aviary housing system); turkeys (floor housing with litter), pigs: fattening pigs (traditional houses, low emission houses with dry feed, and low emission houses with wet feed), piglets, sows (individual and group housing); cattle (cubicle house), and mink (cages). Using an aerosol spectrometer, particles were counted and classified into 30 size classes (total range: 0.25 ¿ 32 µm). Particles were measured on for two days, one in spring and the other in summer, in two of each species/housing combination during 30 min inside and outside the animal house. Outside temperature and relative humidity were also measured. Particle counts in the different size classes were generally higher in poultry houses than in pig houses, and counts in pig houses were generally higher than those in cattle and mink houses. The particle counts in animal houses were highest (on average 87%) in the size classes 2.5 ¿m (on average 97%). Most particles outside were in the size class <1.0 ¿m (99% in counts). Mean count median diameter (CMD) of particles inside the animal houses ranged from 0.32 to 0.59 ¿m, while mean mass median diameter (MMD) ranged from 3.54 to 12.4 ¿m. Particle counts in different size fractions were highly correlated, with correlation coefficients varying from 0.69 to 0.98; higher coefficients were found for the closer size ranges. Although particle counts in different size ranges varied greatly, for all particle classes, except the particles in the 0.25 ¿ 1.0 µm range, the most variation could be accounted for by species/housing combination and outside temperature and relative humidity. It should be recognized that the measurements were done during short periods of the day and only during the spring and summer period.Lai, H.; Aarnink, A.; Cambra López, M.; Huynh, T.; Parmentier, H.; Groot Koerkamp, P. (2014). Size Distribution of Airborne Particles in Animal Houses. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal. 16(3):28-42. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/102747S284216

Concentration, spatial and size distribution of airborne aerobic mesophilic bacteria in broiler farms

In livestock houses, particulate matter (PM) and airborne microorganism are two of the most relevant air pollutants. Particulate matter may carry microorganisms, the inhalation of which can cause detrimental health effects. The aim of this study was to study the spatial distribution of airborne aerobic mesophilic bacteria in the air of a broiler farm (rearing poultry for meat production), to quantify the concentration of airborne aerobic mesophilic bacteria and PM in the air and to study their evolution in time, as well as to evaluate the relationship between particle size and airborne aerobic mesophilic bacteria, and to correlate the evolution of PM concentrations and aerobic mesophilic bacteria concentrations. For this purpose, the air of two broiler rooms in an experimental broiler farm was sampled weekly using different methods during 42 days. There was a spatial gradient (p&lt;0.001) in aerobic mesophilic bacteria concentrations between animal height and higher heights, at the beginning of the production cycle (day 3). The concentration of aerobic mesophilic bacteria in the air ranged from 3 to 6.53 log CFU/m(3). Between 42% and 96% of aerobic mesophilic bacteria in the air were found in the particle size ranges between 3.3 to more than 7 mu m. The PM concentration in the air was equal to 0.019 mg/m(3) for PM2.5 and equal to 0.189 mg/m(3) for PM10. The PM and bacteria concentrations followed a similar evolution during the production cycle (correlation coefficient between 0.78 and 0.89), showing a maximum concentration on day 24 and decreasing thereafter, coinciding with an increase in the ventilation rate