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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291470
Title: Particulate matter adjacent to cattle deep-bedded monoslope facilities

Author
item Spiehs, Mindy
item Holt, Gregory
item KOHL, KRIS - Iowa State University
item DORAN, BETH - Iowa State University
item PARKER, DAVID - West Texas A & M University
item CORTUS, ERIN - South Dakota State University

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2013
Publication Date: 3/26/2013
Citation: Spiehs, M.J., Holt, G.A., Kohl, K.D., Doran, B.E., Parker, D.B., Cortus, E. 2013. Particulate matter adjacent to cattle deep-bedded monoslope facilities. In: Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions, April 1-5, 2013, Denver, Colorado. Available: http://www.extension.org/pages/67704/particulate-matter-adjacent-to-cattle-deep-bedded-monoslope-facilities.

Interpretive Summary: Confined cattle facilities are an increasingly common housing system in the Northern Great Plains region. Many of these facilities add organic bedding material to the pens once or twice per week, potentially causing fine dust particles to be emitted from the facility. However, these dust concentrations and other emission factors from these facilities have not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to quantify dust concentration surrounding a deep-bedded monoslope facility housing cattle during normal operation when bedding was added. Dust concentrations ranged between 40.1 to 91.4 µg/m3 during days of normal operation and were 281.8 to 1684.2 µg/m3 during the short time bedding was added. In general, particulate matter concentrations adjacent to the deep-bedded monoslope facility were lower than previously reported for open lot feedlots. Concentrations were higher while bedding was added; however bedding is typically added over a short amount of time only once or twice a week.

Technical Abstract: Purpose: Confined cattle facilities are an increasingly common housing system in the Northern Great Plains region. Many of these facilities add organic bedding material to the pens once or twice per week. Particulate matter concentrations and emissions from these facilities have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to quantify particulate matter concentration adjacent to a deep-bedded monoslope facility housing cattle and to compare the concentrations during normal operation and a bedding event. What did we do?: Three Lo-Vol Particulate Samplers were placed 4.6 m from the north side of the building, and three were placed 4.6 m from the south side of the building with 36.6 m between the samplers on each side. Average sampler flow rate was 16.7 L/min. Samples were collected over two five-day periods (April and June 2011). Each sample period included three 24-hr collections during normal operation and two 3-hr collections during a bedding event. Filters were collected, conditioned for 48 hr at 21.1 °C and 35% humidity, then weighed in micrograms and analyzed on a Beckman Coulter LS 230 to determine total suspended particulate matter (TSP). What have we learned?: During the April sampling period, average 24-hr TSP concentration ranged from 40.1 to 91.4 µg/m3 during days of normal operation. Average 3-hr particulate matter concentration during bedding events ranged from 281.8 to 540.5 µg/m3. During the June sampling period, 24-hr TSP concentration on days of normal operation ranged from 52.7 to 64.6 µg/m3, while 3-hr particulate matter concentration during bedding events averaged 302.4 to 1684.2 µg/m3. Average net TSP concentration from 25 open-lot feedlots in Calforina during the summer was 654 µg/m3 over a 24-hr period (Algeo et al., 1972). Sweeten et al. (1998) reported average TSP concentrations of 410 µg/m3 measures for 24 hr periods on open feedlots in Texas. In general, particulate matter concentrations adjacent to the deep-bedded monoslope facility were lower than previously reported for open lot feedlots. Concentrations of TSP were higher during the 3-hr bedding event than during normal operation. Future Plans: To compliment this research, data has been collected from two monoslope beef barns over the past two years as part of an AFRI-funded research grant. MiniVol particulate samplers were used to determine PM-10 and PM-2.5 concentrations over 24-hr periods. Data collected from this project with further define the particle size of dust being emitted from these facilities.