News article, 29. February 2024

Environmental system for farrowing pens: Promising results

In a trial three different systems for clearing slurry away from the farrowing section for have shown that ammonia emissions can be reduced.

Photo: Danish Agriculture & Food Council

In a trial by SEGES Innovation, three different systems for clearing slurry away from the farrowing section for loose-housed nursing sows have shown that ammonia emissions can be reduced.

A funnel for collecting slurry from the farrowing pen: This may sound simple, but nevertheless it is a piece of new technology that can collect slurry from the sow when loose in her pen. In traditional confined systems, the area where the sow defecates is restricted by farrowing rails. However, many Danish pig producers have already embarked on building units for loose-housed sows – pens where the sow has a larger area to defecate. This provides a larger slurry surface and thus higher emissions.

"We’ve come up with three possible solutions that address the sow’s defecating behaviour, and which can get the slurry out of the housing unit more quickly. We are testing a divided wire-type barn cleaner, a wire-type barn cleaner with sloping walls and a slurry funnel.

To discover which systems have the greatest reduction potential, we measure ammonia, methane, and odour emissions,” explains Stine Grønborg, Consultant at SEGES Innovation.

Cost and potential have a role to play

It has yet to be determined which solution works best for the farmer, but all three systems have shown promising results.

"The three systems deliver a high welfare standard in the pen and low environmental impact. So far, all systems look promising, but which is the best for the farmer depends on the final reduction potential and the cost of setting it up,” explains Stine Grønborg.

The sloping walls help to reduce the surface area of the slurry and thus reduce ammonia emissions. So far, all three systems have shown a reduction in methane and ammonia.

Cold months can impact measurements

“However, winter’s results can have an impact on the summer’s good results as the unit is not ventilated as much in the cold months. Therefore, in terms of emissions, the winter results are likely to differ,” says Stine Grønborg.

See more about the trial: https://www.seges.tv/video/91812873/gyllesystemer-i-farestalde-med-lose

For information on when emissions from the units are measured see: https://www.seges.tv/video/92294479/sadan-males-udledning-fra