Unlike traditional livestock management operations where livestock is scattered over larger areas (i.e. grazing pastures, fields, or on rangeland), AFO operations typically require food to be brought in to a small land area where the majority of animals are confined and raised.

While bringing many benefits (i.e. smaller land areas can support larger livestock operations) Animal Feed Operations (AFO) introduce some new and unique challenges that are not typically present in the traditional grazing or scattered livestock management model.

Animal Feed Operations (AFO) – Challenges:

Increased density of livestock confined within smaller land areas will result in increased organic waste (feces, manure, etc) production. In typical grazing style livestock management operations, the surrounding land is able to absorb and biodegrade the produced organic waste. AFO however, will typically require that waste collection, disposal and management be implemented since the land will be over saturated and unable to absorb and biologically decompose all the waste produced.Additionally, animal feed operations typically require that the livestock food be brought in and animals be fed on-site.While feedlot management and delivery can eliminate the amount of food that is wasted before being consumed by the livestock, eventually some food will end up being mixed with manure therefore raising the quantities of waste produced.

Odors:

Increased density of livestock will result in the increased waste production. Increased waste (manure) production within small confined areas will mean that elevation of the unpleasant odors associated with the manure produced (bacterial and microbial transformation of the partially digested and non-digestible biological matter, etc.).

Mismanaged animal food that was not consumed (spilled food) is being removed with the manure and is an additional source of nutrients for the biological organisms feeding off it. The food decomposition process combined with the unpleasant odor of the manure and slurry (caused by odorous indolics microbial metabolites, etc.) will make the AFO a very unpleasant environment that may be considered a strong nuisance by the neighboring establishments. AFO odors are considered as a specific category of air pollution.

Biohazard Risks Associated With AFO:

Manure and slurry created by AFO is an ideal breeding stage and an accelerant for bacterial, fungal and viral growth. The water leaching into the ground or the runoff water exiting to the surrounding watershed can contain dangerous levels of microbiological organisms dangerous to both humans and animals. Contamination of drinking water wells and other clean water holding areas is a considerable factor in AFO. Also algae growth within still water bodies surrounding the animal feed operation is also a well documented issue.

The following is a short-list of bacteria and the associated illnesses each is responsible for. Many are found to thrive well or at least benefit from the nutrient rich environments found in manure and slurry produced within typical animal feed operations.

Bacteria

- Escherichia coli (enterotoxigenic) – Causes Gastroenteritis
• - Leptospira (spp.) – Causes Leptospirosis
• - Salmonella typhi – Causes Typhoid fever
• - Salmonella (≈2,100 serotypes) – Causes Salmonellosis
• - Shigella (4 spp.) – Causes Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery).
• - Vibrio cholerae - Causes Cholera
Protozoa
• - Balantidium coli - Causes Balantidiasis
• - Cryptosporidium parvum – Causes Cryptosporidiosis
• - Entamoeba histolytica – Causes Amebiasis (amoebic dysentery)
• - Giardia lamblia – Causes Giardiasis
Helminths
• - Ascaris lumbricoides – Causes Ascariasis
• - T. solium - Causes Taeniasis
• - Trichuris trichiura – Causes Trichuriasis
Viruses
Enteroviruses (72 types, e.g., polio, echo, and coxsackie virus) – Cause Gastroenteritis, heart anomalies, meningitis.
• - Hepatitis A virus – Cause Infectious hepatitis
• - Norwalk agent – Cause Gastroenteritis
• - Rotavirus – Cause Gastroenteritis

Source: National Small Flow Clearinghouse

Disease and Contamination Propagation Management

Insects such as flies (house fly or Musca domestica) can carry the disease borne microbiological organisms further away from manure and slurry pits and AFO operations.

Flies, mosquitoes and other insects can also cross-contaminate the food meant for human and animal consumption. If such food is exported from an APO facility (i.e. food or milk produced on the farm and taken away to the store or market where it’s being sold to consumers), serious illness or disease outbreaks can result.

The abundance of food will also serve as an attractant to other animals such as rodents (mice, rats, etc.) that are known to potentially be able to carry disease and infection much further than flies and bugs. Birds and other animals can also become disease carriers and because those animals can travel even further as well as pass the disease to other animals they come in contact with, the potential danger of disease spread from mismanaged AFO operation is a clear and serious concern.

Use of Ozone to Control Microbiological Growth

There are many benefits that ozone can bring to an AFO (Animal Feed Operation).
Ozone is a strong oxidant and will react with most organic compounds present in manure and slurry. Therefore ozone will accelerate the decomposition process and help better manage the waste produced by typical AFO.

Ozone is also known to be effective in incapacitating the majority of microbiological organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.). It is widely believed that ozone kills viruses, bacteria and other microbiological organisms by attacking the inner membrane wall of the microbiological organism’s cellular structure.

The effectiveness of ozone to destroy bacteria, viruses and other microbiological organisms has been tested and the results published in several scientific papers and other journals. The following is a summary of results published to date:<.p>

• - E. coli – Destroyed with 0.02 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Poliovirus 1 – Destroyed with 0.1-0.2 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Rotavirus  – Destroyed with 0.006-0.06 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia lamblia cysts  – Destroyed 0.5-0.6 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia muris cysts – - Destroyed 1.8-2.0 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7

Ozone is very helpful in reducing odorous phenolics, microbial metabolites (e.g., phenol, p-cresol and p-ethylphenol), odorous indolics, and microbial metabolites (e.g., 3-methylindole and indole) therefore helping greatly in managing odor and air pollution created by an animal feed operation. Therefore the air pollution typically associated with animal feed operations can be eliminated or minimized to more tolerable or acceptable levels.

Ozone for Watershed Management

Increased concentration of organic waste in runoff waters originating from an AFO will result in increased algae growth in lagoons and lakes neighboring the AFO establishment. Ozone can be effectively used to control algae growth in lagoons and ponds. Ozone will eliminate the algae growth by destroying the present algae within the water body as well as oxidizing the biological waste (such as sulphur, phosphor and nitrogen) that serve as an accelerant to algae growth (food source for algae).

Effectiveness of Ozone in Managing Insect Infestations:

The study by Masten et. al (Toxicity of Ozonated Animal Manure to the House Fly, Musca domestica, J. ENVIRON. QUAL., VOL. 30, SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2001), concluded that ozonated slurry is very toxic to house flies.), resulting in a mortality rate of between 9.4% in sheep manure to close to 100% in swine manure.  Ozonated slurry can help in management of the airborne insects within the animal feed operation.

The reduction of insects that can become a potential disease carrier, will decrease danger of disease spreading as well as decrease risks of food cross contamination by disease carrying insects.

Use of Ozone as a Food Preserving Agent:

Ozone can be effectively used to preserve both animal food as well as food destined for human consumption. Ozone can be implemented to stop rotting and mold growth inside a feedlot silos as well as to decontaminate and preserve the human food (destroy any bacterial and viral growth on meat, vegetables and processed food as well as ensure that the food is kept sterile afterward). Ozone can also be used in sanitizing work surface areas (food processing, handling and storage areas) as well as livestock habitation areas (places where livestock is kept).

Ozone in AFO Operations – Conclusion:

The benefits of ozone in animal feed operations management are many. Ozone can be used in many areas such as pollution management, disease prevention, food sanitation, environmental remediation and more.

Ozone leaves no harmful by products and is environmentally safe to use (any unused ozone will degrade back into more stable oxygen form shortly after being generated). Ozonated water can be safely re-used or discharged directly to the environment (will not leave any harmful residues).

Ozone technology can be made very portable. Ozone is generated on-site therefore eliminating the need to transport, store and manage it (as the case is with chlorine and other chemicals).

Ozone can be generated from ambient air and the only requirement is that an adequate electrical power source is available. Smaller ozone generator and treatment skids can be designed to be powered by portable electric generators therefore making them very portable and able to be used in more than one physical location and for more than one application.

Aside from the initial investment to purchase and deploy an ozone treatment solution, ozone generators carry much lower overhead than conventional competing solutions (only require a typical maintenance to ensure the equipment will continue functioning properly).

The quality of the equipment installed does matter however. While ozone technology has become more affordable the selection of quality engineered and tested components, is important.
Experience is also a key factor in effectiveness of ozone use in AFO applications. Knowing how much ozone you may require as well as where and how to best use the ozone is a complex process.

In the majority of cases the complexity of factors present will make it very difficult to precisely determine the concentration and quantity of ozone required. In such cases a pre-deployment pilot study may be required. Gathering feedback about parameters and factors affecting the effectiveness of the ozone treatment will make the full implementation of the ozonation technology more effective as well as reduce overall operating costs by sizing the ozone injection skid properly.

If you require additional help and assistance in selecting a unit, please contact an Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763 for a complimentary consultation and review of your application’s requirements.

Disease and Contamination Propagation Management

Insects such as flies (house fly or Musca domestica) can carry the disease borne microbiological organisms further away from manure and slurry pits and AFO operations.

Flies, mosquitoes and other insects can also cross-contaminate the food meant for human and animal consumption. If such food is exported from an APO facility (i.e. food or milk produced on the farm and taken away to the store or market where it’s being sold to consumers), serious illness or disease outbreaks can result.

The abundance of food will also serve as an attractant to other animals such as rodents (mice, rats, etc.) that are known to potentially be able to carry disease and infection much further than flies and bugs. Birds and other animals can also become disease carriers and because those animals can travel even further as well as pass the disease to other animals they come in contact with, the potential danger of disease spread from mismanaged AFO operation is a clear and serious concern.

Use of Ozone to Control Microbiological Growth

There are many benefits that ozone can bring to an AFO (Animal Feed Operation).
Ozone is a strong oxidant and will react with most organic compounds present in manure and slurry. Therefore ozone will accelerate the decomposition process and help better manage the waste produced by typical AFO.

Ozone is also known to be effective in incapacitating the majority of microbiological organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.). It is widely believed that ozone kills viruses, bacteria and other microbiological organisms by attacking the inner membrane wall of the microbiological organism’s cellular structure.

The effectiveness of ozone to destroy bacteria, viruses and other microbiological organisms has been tested and the results published in several scientific papers and other journals. The following is a summary of results published to date:

• - E. coli – Destroyed with 0.02 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Poliovirus 1 – Destroyed with 0.1-0.2 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Rotavirus  – Destroyed with 0.006-0.06 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia lamblia cysts  – Destroyed 0.5-0.6 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia muris cysts – - Destroyed 1.8-2.0 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7

Ozone is very helpful in reducing odorous phenolics, microbial metabolites (e.g., phenol, p-cresol and p-ethylphenol), odorous indolics, and microbial metabolites (e.g., 3-methylindole and indole) therefore helping greatly in managing odor and air pollution created by an animal feed operation. Therefore the air pollution typically associated with animal feed operations can be eliminated or minimized to more tolerable or acceptable levels.

Ozone for Watershed Management

Increased concentration of organic waste in runoff waters originating from an AFO will result in increased algae growth in lagoons and lakes neighboring the AFO establishment. Ozone can be effectively used to control algae growth in lagoons and ponds. Ozone will eliminate the algae growth by destroying the present algae within the water body as well as oxidizing the biological waste (such as sulphur, phosphor and nitrogen) that serve as an accelerant to algae growth (food source for algae).

Effectiveness of Ozone in Managing Insect Infestations:

The study by Masten et. al (Toxicity of Ozonated Animal Manure to the House Fly, Musca domestica, J. ENVIRON. QUAL., VOL. 30, SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2001), concluded that ozonated slurry is very toxic to house flies.), resulting in a mortality rate of between 9.4% in sheep manure to close to 100% in swine manure.  Ozonated slurry can help in management of the airborne insects within the animal feed operation.

The reduction of insects that can become a potential disease carrier, will decrease danger of disease spreading as well as decrease risks of food cross contamination by disease carrying insects.

Use of Ozone as a Food Preserving Agent:

Ozone can be effectively used to preserve both animal food as well as food destined for human consumption. Ozone can be implemented to stop rotting and mold growth inside a feedlot silos as well as to decontaminate and preserve the human food (destroy any bacterial and viral growth on meat, vegetables and processed food as well as ensure that the food is kept sterile afterward). Ozone can also be used in sanitizing work surface areas (food processing, handling and storage areas) as well as livestock habitation areas (places where livestock is kept).

Ozone in AFO Operations – Conclusion:

The benefits of ozone in animal feed operations management are many. Ozone can be used in many areas such as pollution management, disease prevention, food sanitation, environmental remediation and more.

Ozone leaves no harmful by products and is environmentally safe to use (any unused ozone will degrade back into more stable oxygen form shortly after being generated). Ozonated water can be safely re-used or discharged directly to the environment (will not leave any harmful residues).

Ozone technology can be made very portable. Ozone is generated on-site therefore eliminating the need to transport, store and manage it (as the case is with chlorine and other chemicals).

Ozone can be generated from ambient air and the only requirement is that an adequate electrical power source is available. Smaller ozone generator and treatment skids can be designed to be powered by portable electric generators therefore making them very portable and able to be used in more than one physical location and for more than one application.

Aside from the initial investment to purchase and deploy an ozone treatment solution, ozone generators carry much lower overhead than conventional competing solutions (only require a typical maintenance to ensure the equipment will continue functioning properly).

The quality of the equipment installed does matter however. While ozone technology has become more affordable the selection of quality engineered and tested components, is important.
Experience is also a key factor in effectiveness of ozone use in AFO applications. Knowing how much ozone you may require as well as where and how to best use the ozone is a complex process.

In the majority of cases the complexity of factors present will make it very difficult to precisely determine the concentration and quantity of ozone required. In such cases a pre-deployment pilot study may be required. Gathering feedback about parameters and factors affecting the effectiveness of the ozone treatment will make the full implementation of the ozonation technology more effective as well as reduce overall operating costs by sizing the ozone injection skid properly.

If you require additional help and assistance in selecting a unit, please contact an Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763 for a complimentary consultation and review of your application’s requirements.

http://www.nesc.wvu.edu