Dry Litter Technology for Small-scale Piggeries

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Dry Litter Technology for Small-scale Piggeries

Glen K FukumotoCTAHR, University of Hawaii at Mānoa

Pohnpei Livestock Management Academy

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Today’s Outline

•Celebrating The baby (pua’a)•Water quality challenges in out islands•Dry Litter Technology Evolution•Introduction to compost

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In Pacific Island Cultures; the babii (pua’a) is very important!

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It’s part of our cultural heritage and for celebraBons of life!

Birth First Birthday GraduaBon Marriage Death

In Pacific Island cultures, water is very important too …

Tropical Pacific PrioriBes

• Drinking Water & Wastewaster Infrastructure – Safe and Available Drinking Water 24/7

• Non Point Source PolluBon – Increasing interest in the secBon

• Coral Reef Ecosystem ProtecBon

Alexis Strauss, Associate Regional Director U.S.E.P.A., Region IX

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Challenges in our Islands

• ECOSYSTEM/GEOLOGY

• POPULATION • MANagement of LIVESTOCK

Challenges for Island Ecosystems

• Surrounded by water • Limited land area • Flashy flows from rainfall

events • Short paths to water

resources (ground, surface, coastal)

• Agricultural/Urban interface is blurred

• ConcentraBon lead to accumulaBon in the watershed

• Many fragile tropical ecosystems

Island Hydrology

(Source: USGS)

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Land Area and The Growing PopulaBon

Land Area (mi2)

• Hawaii – Big Island 4,028+

– Oahu 597

• South Pacific – Amer. Samoa 77

• Western Pacific

– Tinian 39 – Rota 33

– Guam 212

– Saipan 46

• Palau

Pop.Density (people/mi2) • 198 37

1,506 • 750

750 • 728

91 100 806 1,356

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Republic of Palau

Land area (mi2)

Total = 177 Babeldaob = 165

Koror = 7

PopulaBon Density

113.0 29.2

1,900.4

Current Management PracBces Observed in Many Small Piggeries

• Direct discharge • Uncontrolled flow • No containment

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Direct discharge

Piggeries located at edge of mangroves

Uncontrolled flow

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Palau Water and Coastal ProtecBon RegulaBons

• Ministry of Health – Bureau of Public Health

• Department of Environmental Health

• Environmental Quality ProtecBon Board

• State Government – Eg. Koror State SanitaBon

In the U.S., this is the boMomline … and it’s the law!

• No runoff of nutrients into waters of the state

• Contain nutrients; storage structure need buffer for 25yr-24hr storm

• Keep safe setback from water resources • Keep clean water “clean”

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1) Nitrate-N Leaching & Runoff

2) Ammonia-N Runoff & Aerial deposiBon

3) Phosphorus Surface water runoff

4) Pathogens Surface water runoff

5) Organic Matter Surface water runoff

Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water

Pollutant Pathway

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1) Nitrate-N Human Health

2) Ammonia-N Fish Kills

3) Phosphorus Eutrophication

4) Pathogens Human Health

5) Organic Matter Oxygen Depletion

Water Quality Contaminants in Manure

Possible Environmental / Pollutants Health Risk

CONUNDRUM Geology

Population Manure Management

AlternaBve Manure Management PracBces are needed …

• to avoid environmental degradation of our water resources

• to avoid possible human health problems – Example – Leptospirosis

• lets take advantage of the nutrients or “fertilizer” value for growing crops to save on imported nutrients.

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Paradigm Shig …

• Today’s educational program is focused on RECOVERY and BENEFICIAL USE of nutrients rather than disposal

• Also to incorporate low volume or no water systems.

• Change our perceptions about livestock manure ….. from a Liability (odors, flies, pollution run-off/seepage) to a Resource (organic fertilizer, soil amendment) Resource … not Liability Nutrients … not Waste

Let’s focus on Beneficial Use of Nutrients for Crop ProducBon

Birth and EvoluBon of the Dry LiMer Technology

• Livestock Extension 1985 • Hog Farmer George Kahumoku

• PracBced the deep liMer waste management system

• Aha moment!

• Proposal EPA 319 grant 1994.

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Premise of the proposal What if ...

a system that was low tech, the system was pracBcal,

use no water for pen clean up,

creates no offensive odors,

reduce fly breeding,

creates a new product off the farm,

makes the regulators happy ...

First Dry LiMer System 1994

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Second Dry Litter System 1997 Double Wing Version

EvaluaBons

• Pen Slopes • Various Carbon Materials

• Animal Performance

• Odor monitoring

• Compost product

• Beneficial uBlizaBon

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Odor, Hydrogen sulfide

Compost Product

Utilization … Key Component

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Rippy Designs American Samoa EPA

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Advantages

• No water is used in pen washdown • No discharge of effluent from the pen

• Carbon interacBon with nitrogen in the co-‐composBng process reduces odors.

• Low to moderate level of management to operate. The pigs do the work.

• Organic ferBlizer by-‐product for crop use or sold as compost at favorable returns

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Disadvantages

• Consistent supply of carbon is required adding effort in acquisiBon, transportaBon and storage.

• Cannot be adapted to exisBng piggeries with flat floors.

• ComposBng of resultant liMer will require addiBonal management

Benefits to the Watershed

Water conservaBon. ProtecBon of surface, ground and coastal waters.

Nuisance vectors are minimized.

Odors drasBcally reduced.

Recycling of greenwastes, other carbon and organic material.

Cost EffecBveness

• No mechanical parts or specialized equipment required.

• The system is designed into the building structure, modular.

• Greater efficiency of land area. • Adds value to greenwastes and other carbon sources.

• Creates a potenBal revenue stream from compost or savings from purchase of amendments.

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Dry LiMer Portable Pen

Cycle 1 Cycle 2

Cycle 3 Cycle 4

Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4

Return to first site

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Advantages

• No water is used in pen washdown • No discharge of effluent from the pen

• Low level of management to operate

• Low capital and operaBng cost • Organic ferBlizer by-‐product • Requires a small “footprint” or land area

• Keypoint: place wire mesh under the pen to prevent the pigs from digging mud holes.

Disadvantages

• Consistent supply of carbon is required • Applicable for very small scale operaBons

• Requires rotaBon/relocaBon every 4-‐5 months

• Cannot be used on steep or rough terrain • Should not be used over criBcal water groundwater recharge areas

ComposBng

A natural process of aerobic, microbial degradaBon of organic maMer

Feedstocks (Carbon & Nitrogen)

Oxygen

Moisture

Time

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Advantages

• ComposBng is an old technology that is used world-‐wide for manure management.

• ComposBng is a natural biological process in which microbes convert the manure and plant material into a "humus" or organic soil-‐like material.

• Composted manure has no odor and is easy to use, so there are many more opBons for using the compost compared to raw manure

• The composBng process will reduce the volume of the in-‐coming material. – Experience during 2002 shows that the volume within a composBng bin can shrink by 60%-‐80% in about 3 months

Benefits to the Soil

Increases soil ferBlity Increases soil aeraBon

Increases water-‐holding capacity Enhances plant disease suppression Increases organic maMer content Enhances buffering capacity of soil Increase soil erosion resistance Increase microbial acBvity of soil

Increase microbial compeBBveness

“Big Picture” Benefits

Recycles nutrients (ferBlizer) Carbon resource uBlizaBon

Saves expensive landfill space

Compost improve soils

Increase your plantaBon producBvity

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Disadvantages

• ComposBng is usually just one part of a system (e.g., a solids separator may also be needed at some sites).

• Some effort is required to manage the compost process (e.g., to load and unload the bins).

• It is possible that some pathogens are sBll in the material even ager composBng for about 3 months, so it is important to treat the material carefully (avoid direct contact and wash hands thoroughly ager using).

Process, ‘PasteurizaBon’ temperatures.

Time, Temperature Aerated staBc pile:

must maintain a temperature of > 55ºC (131ºF) for 3 consecuBve days. AcBve -‐ Windrow:

a minimum of 5 turns required during a period of 15 consecuBve days, with temperature of the

mixture > 55ºC (131ºF).

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CharacterisBcs of Good Compost

Aerobically produced Diverse in plant and animal feedstocks

Stable, no odors, excess nutrients

Pathogen free

Weed seed free

C:N raBo 15-‐25:1

Moisture 45%-‐50%

Germinate >75% seeds

ComposBng in American Samoa

ComposBng in CNMI

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Hue and Ikawa, CTAHR

Ke Kmal Mesulang many thanks …

• for your parBcipaBon in the workshop. • to the Workshop Sponsors & Coordinators

– Palau Community College – CRE • Thomas Taro, Felix Sengebau, Leilanie Rechelluul

– Board of Agriculture • Fernando Sengebau, Kashgar Rengulbai

• to the Funding agency – USDA NaBonal InsBtute of Food and Agriculture

Published by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Andrew G. Hashimoto, Director/Dean, Cooperative Extension Service/CTAHR, Universityof Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Institution providing programs and services to the people of Hawaii withoutregard to race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or veteran status.CTAHR publications can be found on the Web site <http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu> or ordered by calling 808-956-7046 or sending e-mail to [email protected].

Animal Waste ManagementApril 2004

AWM-2

Water, too often taken for granted, is of critical im-portance in island ecosystems. Water bodies, such

as streams and coastal ocean areas, as well as under-ground drinking water sources, need to be protected fromthe many pressures and contaminations created by in-creasing human and livestock populations. The goal ofthe small-scale swine waste management system de-scribed here is to help island communities by develop-ing beneficial uses of pig manure while protecting wa-ter resources from being polluted by the nutrients in pigwastes that may run off or leach from pig pens. The sys-tem is applicable for backyard or small-farm pig hus-bandry, where allowable under local zoning regulations,in Hawaii and other regions of the Pacific.

This portable dry-litter (PDL) pen system was in-troduced by the authors in American Samoa in 2002. Itis easy to install, and it helps recycle plant residues bytransforming them into nutrient-rich compost. The pigsare provided a bedding of compostable material such asyard trimmings, crop residues, or shredded municipalgreen-waste from tree trimming. The bedding helps toabsorb pig waste liquids, while the action of the pigs’hooves and rooting helps to break down the solid pigwaste and mix it with the bedding. No wash water isused. Bedding material is added on a regular basis tokeep the animals in a relatively clean environment. Foreach pen cycle of 4–6 months, up to four animals maybe raised until the desired market or slaughter weight isachieved. After each cycle, the pen is moved to a newsite, and the process can start again.

This pen system was developed using materials thatwere available from hardware suppliers in AmericanSamoa. The rigid, galvanized fence panels used are prod-ucts of the Behlen Manufacturing Co., Columbus, Ne-braska, USA; they may not be availabile everywhere.Such panels are suggested because of their rigidity anddurability, but other fencing materials may be substituted.

A Portable Dry-Litter Pig PenGlen Fukumoto1 and Jim Wimberly2

1Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences; 2(formerly) Foundation for Organic Resources Management

Ideal location for a PDL penThe location of a PDL pen is important from both anoperations and management standpoint. Choose a sitethat is level and shaded so that the pigs are protected

Materials and tools needed

❏ four 8-ft pen side fence panels*

❏ fencing for floor (8 ft x 8 ft)**

❏ four 6-ft T-posts

❏ one corrugated galvanized roof panel (10 ft long)

❏ one 2 x 4-inch piece of lumber (10 ft long)

❏ coil of tie wire

❏ post pounder

❏ drill and 1⁄4-inch bit

❏ hacksaw or heavy-duty wire cutter

❏ pliers

*Behlen Mfg. Co. makes various sizes of fencingpanels in 16-ft lengths. Panels for pig enclosuresusually have the horizontal wires closer together at thebottom; Behlen markets a 42-inch “Combo” panel anda 34-inch “Hog” panel in this style. The panels shownin the photographs are 60-inch “Security” panels with auniform mesh grid.

**The floor fencing does not need to be rigid or heavygauge. Pigs usually stop rooting once they encounter abarrier, and the floor is designed to keep them fromdigging under the side panels and to prevent themfrom making depressions in the soil that might collectwater. Light fencing materials (such as chicken-wire)used for the pen floor may need to be replaced witheach pen cycle. Behlen markets a “Handy Panel” witha grid of about 6 x 8 inch mesh, which at 4 x 8 ft wouldbe a convenient dimension; regular constructionreinforcing wire used in poured concrete slabs willwork as well.

AWM-2 A Portable Dry-Litter Pig Pen UH-CTAHR — April 2004

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from the sun. If possible, the site should be close to orwithin the area from which the bedding materials areobtained and also where the compost will be applied.This makes it easier to collect the bedding materials anddistribute the compost. Make sure the PDL pen site isset back far enough from any streams and well heads—normally 50 feet from streams and up to 1000 feet fromwells (allowable set-back distances will vary accordingto local environmental protection regulations).

Building the pen1. Use the hacksaw or wire cutter to cut the side-panel

fencing to 8-ft lengths.2. Lay the floor wire on the ground chosen for the pen

site.3. Drive the first T-post into the ground at one corner

of the floor wire.4. Attach one fence panel to the T-post with tie wire.5. Determine the location of the next T-post, drive it,

and attach the fence panel to it.6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the remaining T-posts and

fence panels.7. Square up all four sides as you work with each panel;

tying the floor wire to the side panels will add greatersecurity from escape.

8. Drill holes near the ends of the 2x4 and wire it tothe T-posts on one side of the pen.

9. Drill or punch holes in the corners of the roofingmaterial; attach one edge to the 2x4 and tie the cor-ners of the opposite side directly to the side panels.

The roof provides shade and protection from rain.9. Cover the entire pen floor with 6–8 inches of dry

bedding material.10. Access the pen through a corner opposite the roof.

How the PDL pen worksOnce the pen is built and the bedding has been added, itis ready to house pigs. The 8-ft square pen area (64 squarefeet) will accommodate up to four weaned pigs, figuringon at least 15 square feet per pig. The pigs will rootthrough the dry litter material looking for bugs and worms,but the wire floor will prevent them from digging them-selves out of the pen and escaping. The wire base alsohelps to prevent the pigs from creating depressions in thesoil that can collect water and breed mosquitoes.

At least twice a week, add new, dry litter to the pento cover any exposed pig manure. The pigs will use onecorner or end of the pen as a dunging area rather thanexcreting wastes everywhere in the pen. Over time, asmore dry litter is added, the material in the pen will buildup, and the floor of the pen will rise. With the activestomping and rooting of normal pig behavior, the mate-rial becomes a mixture of pig waste and green-wastethat will begin to compost.

The PDL pen cyclePigs can be kept in the PDL pen for from 4 to 6 months.Once the pigs are slaughtered, the pen cycle is com-plete. The cycle should not be longer than six months.The pen should be moved, and the mixture of manure

Portable dry-litter pig pens in American Samoa.

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and bedding material should be piled and composted.The pen should be moved after each cycle to pre-

vent concentration and build-up of nutrients from thewaste in the soil beneath the pen. Moving the pen al-lows the site to recover.

To move the pen, remove the 2x4 and roofing mate-rial. Scoop out the manure and green-waste mixture to anearby site prepared for composting. Move the wire baseand place it in the new pen location.

If setting up the new pen just next to where it waspreviously, leave two posts and one side of the pen stand-ing. Remove the other two T-posts and three fence pan-els. Set up the posts and panels on the opposite side ofthe standing fence panel. Reattach the 2x4 piece of lum-ber and roofing material. The pen has thus been movedto a new site and is ready to begin the next pen cycle.This system can be used in four-cycle rotations as shownin the diagram on page 4.

The manure and green-waste mixtureAfter completion of each pen cycle, the mixture of pigmanure and green-waste is ready for composting. Fordetails on the composting process, read CTAHR’s pub-lication HG-41, Backyard Composting: Recycling aNatural Product (see References). Following are somebasic instructions.

The compost pile should be about as high as its di-ameter, but usually not more than 3–4 ft high. The pileshould be protected from heavy rain and kept moist butnot wet.

The interior of the pile should heat up to the pointwhere it is uncomfortable to put your hand into it; thismeans the decomposition process is proceeding. As theinterior of the pile cools, turn it with a spading fork,pitchfork, or shovel so that the parts on the outside aremoved to the center of the pile; it should heat up again.Once the pile no longer heats up, the compost processhas run out of “fuel.”

“Finished” compost is brown and crumbly, and theplant materials that went into it should no longer be rec-ognizable. If this is not the case, screen out the finematerial to use as fertilizer and save the coarse materialfor the next compost cycle, or use it as mulch.

The finished compost is relatively free of diseasepathogens if the pile got hot enough. Avoid adding freshmanure to the pile while it is composting, because thismay add pathogens that will not be killed in the heatingprocess. Finished compost can be used in the garden orcrop field or sold to neighbors and other farmers.

See ADAP publication 2003-3, Treatment, Storage andUse of Swine Waste Solids, for ideas on composting swinewaste solids. See CTAHR publication AWM-1, CompostedAnimal Manures: Precautions and Processing, for moreinformation about animal waste management.

Benefits of the PDL pen systemAdvantages of the PDL pen system include:• uses no water for pen cleaning• discharges no effluent from the pen when properly

managed• low construction cost compared to concrete, cinder-

block, or wooden structures• requires minimal effort or cost to operate and main-

tain• produces a beneficial organic fertilizer byproduct to

improve the soil and aid crop growth• requires only a small land area• reduces fly and mosquito breeding.

Considerations about the PDL pen systemHere are some things to keep in mind when using a PDLpen system to manage the solid and liquid swine wastes:• You need a consistent supply of bedding material. A

mixture of different materials is preferable. Do notuse poisonous plants. Avoid adding weed seeds un-less you know how to manage the composting pro-cess effectively so that seeds are killed.

A full-cover roof may bebest for rainy seasons.


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• This system is best for small-scale operations.• It requires relocation after each 4–6-month cycle.• Flat land is best; it cannot be used on steep or rough

terrain.• It should not be placed over or near groundwater re-

charge areas (wells, streams, springs) or within a natu-ral drainage area (ditch, stream channel).

• Composting is required to produce a fertilizer that canbe used without “burning” sensitive crops.

• The composting process should reach temperaturesbetween 130 and 155°F for a couple of weeks to de-stroy disease organisms in the manure, and weed seeds.

• Local regulations on sites, set-backs, and other guide-lines for piggery operations should be followed.

Benefits of using compost include:• increased soil fertility, aeration, and water-holding

capacity• increased soil organic matter content and microbial

activity• increased soil resistance to erosion• suppressed levels of plant pathogens and soil nematodes.

SummaryThe portable dry-litter pen system is a practical optionfor small-scale piggery operations. It adapts the conceptof the dry-litter waste management system developedfor commercial swine operations in Hawaii, combiningit with rotational grazing and cropping strategies andthe goal of recycling through composting. The systemis relatively inexpensive and adaptable to locations withlimited land area. No water is used for pen cleaning,thus reducing the threat of pollution of groundwater sup-plies and surface water bodies.

AcknowledgmentThanks to Carla D’Angelo for her artistic rendition ofthe PDL pen system and to Luisa Castro for content re-search and technical editing. Funds supporting this workwere provided through the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Exten-sion Service Grant 2001-51130-11413.

Mention of a trademark, company, or proprietary name does not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty by the University of HawaiiCooperative Extension Service or its employees and does not imply recommendation to the exclusion of other suitable products or companies.

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Two examples of a four-cycle PDL pen rotation.

For additional informationAnonymous. 2002. Backyard composting: recycling a natural prod-

uct. University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agricul-ture and Human Resources, publication HG-41. 4 pp. http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/HG-41.pdf.

LeaMaster, Brad, James R. Hollyer, and Jennifer L. Sullivan. 1998.Composted animal manures: precautions and processing. Uni-versity of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture andHuman Resources, publication AWM-1. 5 pp. http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/AWM-1.pdf.

Wimberly, Jim. 2002. Piggery manure management in American Sa-moa 2002 [Web site]. Natural Resources Conservation Service,U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.pigsinparadise.info.

Zaleski, H., et al. 2003. Treatment, storage and use of swine wastesolids. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Agricultural Developmentfor the American Pacific Program, Swine Waste Managementfor Pacific Islands publication ADAP 2003-3. 3 pp. http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adap2/information/pubs/2003-3.pdf.

Documents

Dry Litter Technology for Small-scale Piggeries