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Evaluating Air Quality in Animal Housing

Air quality in animal feeding operations (AFOs) is relevant not only for human health but also the health and productivity of the animals living in that environment. What are some of the main principles in measuring air quality? What are some of the instruments that can be used? The following materials were developed for college instructors to utilize in their classrooms when presenting about air quality measurement in animal agriculture.

Fact Sheet

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Eileen Wheeler, Pennsylvania State University. For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact  Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).

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Measuring Particulate Matter (Dust) in Animal Agriculture

Particulate matter (often called dust) is made up of particles that are suspended in the air. The following materials were developed for college instructors to utilize in their classrooms when presenting about particulates and livestock or poultry farms.

Laboratory Exercises

Presentation Slides

Techniques for Determining Particle Size Distribution (PSD) of Particulate Matter

This presentation was given to the American Chemical Society in 2011 and focuses on comparisons between different techniques as well as the challenges is making these measurements. (36 slides; 6 MB). Download a copy of this presentation.

Note: Some of the graphics are missing in the Slideshare preview below, but they are all available in the download link.

Photo Slide Show



Clicking on a photo will take you to its page with the description and the person that should be credited if you use the photo in a presentation.

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Eileen Wheeler, Pennsylvania State University or the author, Dr. Lingjuan Wang-Li, North Carolina State University. For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact  Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).

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Measuring Bioaerosols in Animal Agriculture

Bioaerosols are particles of biological origin that are suspended in the air. These particles can include viruses, bacteria, fungal spores, and pollen. Bioaerosols are commonplace in the air, but measuring them presents some challenges. The following materials were developed for college instructors to utilize in their classrooms when presenting about bioaerosols.

Fact Sheet

This fact sheet is 15 pages (1 MB; PDF format) and suitable for printing in color or black and white. Download a copy of the fact sheet.

  • Bioaerosol Sampling in Animal Environments, by Lingjuan Wang Li, North Carolina State University; Otto D. Simmons III, North Carolina State University; Eileen Fabian Wheeler, The Pennsylvania State University

Presentation Slides

Measuring Bioaerosols in Animal Environments

This presentation includes 91 slides (30 MB) and consists of a classroom lecure and a hands-on workshop or lab section. Download a copy of this presentation.

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Eileen Wheeler, Pennsylvania State University or the author, Dr. Lingjuan Wang-Li, North Carolina State University. For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact  Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).

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Animal Diet and Feed Management for Reducing Air Emissions

Air emissions from animal agriculture operations and manure storage include gases and particulate matter (dust). The amounts and types of gases can be affected by many different factors, including animal diet. Altering animal diets to reduce the levels of air emissions can be done by finding ways to more closely match animal needs with nutrients available in their diet.

The materials on this page were developed to assist educators and professors who include animal diet, feed management and air emissions topics in their classrooms or educational programs.

Fact Sheet

Scott Carter, Oklahoma State University; Al Sutton, Purdue (retired); Rose Stenglein, University of Minnesota

Archived Webinar

This archive includes embedded videos 10 to 14 minutes in length. Topics include: beef cattle, reducing nitrogen excretion, dairy cattle, and swine. Links are included to download the individual videos and PDF versions of the presentation slides.

Additional Information

You may also be interested in visiting the LPELC Feed Management section for short articles (use the printer-friendly link to create handouts), archived webinars, and a series of dairy fact sheets. Most of these resources are focused on nutrient management with less emphasis on air emissions.

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Kevin Janni, University of Minnesota (kjanni@umn.edu). For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact Dr. Janni or Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).

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Mitigating Dust (Particulate Matter) Emissions from Animal Agriculture

Air emissions from animal animal feedlots are sources of many different emissions including particulate matter (dust).

The materials on this page were developed to assist educators and professors who wish to include dust and particulate emissions and their control as a topic in their classrooms or educational programs.

Fact Sheet

Sharon L. P. Sakirkin, Texas AgriLife Research; Ronaldo Maghirang, Kansas State University; Steve Amosson, Texas AgriLife Extension Service; Brent W. Auvermann, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas AgriLife Research

Alternate download: Includes Dust Emissions Part 1 (Introduction) and Part 2 (Abatement) in a single document (12 pages; PDF format)

Video

Controlling Particulate Matter (PM) Emissions

Ronaldo Maghirang, Kansas State University (8 minutes)

Presentation Slides (Combined with an introductory PM presentation)

If you need to download a copy of a segment, submit a request.

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Kevin Janni, University of Minnesota (kjanni@umn.edu). For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact Dr. Janni or Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).

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Ammonia Emissions from Animal Agriculture: An Introduction

Air emissions from animal agriculture operations consist of many different gases as well as suspended particulates (dust or microbes). One of these gases, ammonia, is gaining greater attention for its role in odor, but also as a precursor of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). PM 2.5 has implications in haze and visibility as well as human health. The materials on this page were developed to assist educators and professors who include an introduction to include ammonia emissions as a topic in their classrooms or programs.

 Fact Sheets

Alternate download: Ammonia from Cattle Operations part 1 (Introduction) and part 2 (abatement) combined in a single document (17 pages; PDF format)

Videos

Ammonia Deposition Alpine Ecosystems


A look at the growing concern about the impacts of ammonia deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Ammonia Emissions

Rick Todd, USDA ARS (10 minutes)

Presentation Slides

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Ron Sheffield, Louisiana State University Ag Center. For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, University of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you need to download a copy of a segment, submit a request.

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Photo (right): Ammonia is a precursor to fine particulate matter (also known as PM 2.5) which can lead to hazy conditions. These conditions are becoming a more common occurrence for visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Mitigating Ammonia Emissions from Animal Agriculture

Air emissions from animal agriculture operations consist of many different gases as well as suspended particulates (dust or microbes). One of these gases, ammonia, is gaining greater attention for its role in odor, but also as a precursor of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). PM 2.5 has implications in haze and visibility as well as human health.

The materials on this page were developed to be used by educators and professors who include this topic in their classrooms or educational programs.

Fact Sheet

Sharon L. P. Sakirkin, Texas AgriLife Research; N. Andy Cole and Richard W. Todd, USDA-Agricultural Research Service; Brent W. Auvermann, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas AgriLife Research

Alternate download: Ammonia from Cattle Operations part 1 (Introduction) and part 2 (abatement) combined in a single document (17 pages; PDF format)

Videos

Reducing Ammonia Emissions from Cattle Feedyards (5 min)

Andy Cole, USDA ARS

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Mitigation of Nitrogen Excretion Through Dietary Manipulations

Mark Hanigan, Virginia Tech (14 minutes)

Note: the pixelation present at the start cleans up at the 2:00 minute mark

Presentation Slides

Archived Webinar

This webinar contains four individual video segments (ranging from 10 to 27 minutes) that discuss current and future mitigation options for reducing ammonia emissions from poultry litter. Presenters are: Eileen Wheeler, Pennsylvania State University; Hongwei Xin, Iowa State University; and Robert Burns, University of Tennessee. The archive also includes handouts and links to additional information. If you have difficulties please see our webcast troubleshooting page. If you need to download a copy of a segment, submit a request.

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Kevin Janni, University of Minnesota (kjanni@umn.edu). For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact Dr. Janni or Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).

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Dust From Cattle Feedyards: A Case Study From Texas

When talking about air quality around animal agriculture, one of the most common neighbor complaints comes from dust (sometimes also called particulate matter).  Dust is given off from cattle feedyards as animals move around on the pen surface. Although this dust usually settled out of the air relatively close to the feedlot, it can lead to nuisance issues with neighbors or nearby roadways. What causes dust emissions and how can we manage cattle feedyards in ways that reduce dust?

Download a copy of this video

Download this video to use in your offline education or extension programs and presentations.

Size: 50 MB

Format: MP4

Acknowledgements

This video was authored by the late Dr. Ron Sheffield, Louisiana State University AgCenter. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Dr. Rick Stowell, rstowell2@unl.edu

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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Airborne Emissions in Animal Agriculture

Air emissions from animal agriculture operations and manure storage include gases and particulate matter (dust). Some of these are potentially hazardous (hydrogen sulfide and ammonia). Others are scrutinized because they are greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) and others because they are odorous. All in all, hundreds of gases can be emitted from manure and animal housing.

The materials on this page were developed to assist educators and professors who include an introduction to airborne emissions and their management as a topic in their classrooms or educational programs.

Fact Sheet

Neslihan Akdeniz and Kevin Janni, University of Minnesota; Wendy Powers, Michigan State University

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Kevin Janni, University of Minnesota (kjanni@umn.edu). For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact Dr. Janni or Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).

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Biofilters for Animal Agriculture Air Quality Curriculum Materials

Air emissions from animal agriculture operations and their associated manure storage are being examined more closely for ways to mitigate potentially harmful gases. One of the options being evaluated is biofilters.  The materials on this page were developed to assist educators and professors who include biofilters as a topic in their classrooms or educational programs.

Fact Sheets

Kevin Janni, Minnesota; Richard Nicolai; South Dakota State (emeritus); Steve Hoff, Iowa State; Rose Stenglein, Minnesota

Webcasts and Videos

Video: Biofilters for Managing Odors and Air Emissions

Technology Summaries

These are from a 2008 conference. Contact information is provided in each article for obtaining updates.

Photo Slideshow

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by the Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project with with financial support from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2007-55112-17856 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For questions about the materials on this page contact Dr. Kevin Janni, University of Minnesota (kjanni@umn.edu). For questions about the AQEAA project, contact Dr. Rick Stowell, Unviersity of Nebraska (rstowell2@unl.edu).

If you have presentations, photos, video, publications, or other instructional materials that could be added to the curricula on this page, please contact Dr. Janni or Jill Heemstra (jheemstra@unl.edu).