Ever wonder how technology and management affect on-farm activities? Two MSUE educators relay the opinions of one USDA national program leader.
by Marilyn Thelen and Jeannine Grobbel
Total livestock numbers worldwide have increased by 38 percent since 1961, and similar expansion can be expected in years to come, says Richard Hegg, national program leader for plant and animal systems with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Hegg says that in the future, world production may nearly triple for hogs and cattle—from 1 billion to 3 billion each — and farm-raised fish production is also expected to increase significantly.
"Animal agriculture is a great asset to the world—it provides jobs, one-third of the protein consumed around the world and 40 percent of the U.S. gross domestic profit (GDP)," he said. "But there are also concerns that livestock is one of the top contributors to serious environmental problems, and that needs urgent attention."
Painting a picture of the future livestock industry, Hegg sees a continuation of large and integrated swine and poultry operations and the trends toward large dairies and beef lots. Family livestock and poultry farms will continue to decrease in numbers, but niche organic livestock and poultry will find a share of the market.
Hegg feels there is great potential in modifying animals' diets to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in manure. Manure treatment options are being focused on air, water, soil, energy, nutrient recovery, pharmaceuticals and pathogens.
Hegg pointed out that cost effectiveness is the key to successful implementation of new manure management technology. Historically, manure has been handled with low-cost systems, including storage and field application.
In 2000, NC-Smithfield Foods looked at 14 field-scale technologies. They were evaluated on their ability to manage runoff, ammonia, odor, pathogens and nutrients. The study also looked at the economics of treatments in relationship to a lagoon and spray field system. Five technologies—four solid manure systems (combustion, gasification, composting and high solids digestion) and one liquid system that included solids separation, nitrification-denitrification and phosphorus removal—met the technical criteria. None of the technologies, however, was economically feasible in real-world situations.
"It is very difficult to develop manure management treatment practices that are viable from an economical and technical basis," he said.
Several manure treatment technologies are being implemented on farms, however. Many involve a combination of treatment methods and provide for the use or sale of some of the components; others require design modification of current facilities. Examples include biofilters, use of wetlands to filter manure, combustion, gasification and composting. For a detailed listing of treatment technologies, visit animalagteam.msu.edu.
It will be difficult to find manure treatment technologies that are as economical as the historical model; however, the trend toward large concentrated production facilities and concerns about air quality and the fate of pathogens from livestock systems will fuel the need to continue to develop viable options.