Ammonia emission in cowsheds

Abstract

Under production conditions ammonia concentration and emission was analysed in three types of cowshed: in an insulated cowshed of tied cows, in an uninsulated cowshed with laying boxes and open manure tracks and in a cowshed with the insulated roof, boxes and partly slatted floor. During the research the inside and outside air temperature, CO2 concentration in the inside and outside air, and the NH3 concentration in the inside air were measured. From the measurement data ventilation rate and ammonia emission rate was calculated. The following conclusions and results describe the research. During housing period the NH3 concentration and emission from animal place in the insulated cowshed of tied cows was 9 ppm and 29 g per day, in uninsulated cowshed with lying boxes and open manure tracks - 3 ppm and 17 g per day, and in the partly insulated cowshed with laiyng boxes and partly slatted floor - 8 ppm and 29 g per day. The air temperature of cowshed has a great influence on NH3 concentration and emission. When the temperature rises from 0°C to 15°C the emission from an animal place increased from 20 g to 30 g per day. Ammonia emission during a 220-days housing period from animal place in an uninsulated cowshed is 307 kg, and in an insulated one 6,4 kg.