Dynamics of Odour Release from a Pig Stall - Part 2 : Results of Parallel Measurements with Olfactometry and the ?EURoeElectronic Nose?EUR?

Abstract

The heavily fluctuating operating conditions in pig husbandry due to cli- matic and biological changes (alterations of temperature and air flow ra- te between day and night as well as between summer and winter, increa- sing animal mass during the fattening process, etc.) exert a significant in- fluence on the amount of actual odour emission. The examination pro- gramme of the presented project comprised the measurement of seasonal (fattening course), daytime-related, and short-term (feeding) dynamic ef- fects of odour release, as well as the identification of potential factors which influence the amount of odour emitted. Parallel to “classic” olfac- tometry, an “electronic nose” with a chemosensor array of ten metal oxide sensors was employed. The largest odour emissions are measured on hot summer days, while the lowest emissions were determined on cold winter days. On the one hand, the sensor signals of the “electronic nose” exhibit considerable differences on days with large air flow rate alterati- ons. On the other hand, continuous measurement with the “electronic nose” allows changes in the gas- and odorant composition of the exhaust air during the feeding times to be shown. From the measurement results, recommendations for odour sampling, the consideration of seasonal odour emission fluctuations in odour spreading calculations, and the use of “electronic noses” for the evaluation of odour emissions have been derived.