MK Soil and FHE in pig fattening

Reducing ammonia from pig fattening

The use of MK Soil and the FHE (Fermented Herb Extract) feed supplement for fattening pigs reduces die emissions of the greenhouse gases methane, ammonia and nitrous oxide by 35 per cent on average in pig pens with sloping floors. At the same time, Multikraft technology minimises total organic carbon (TOC) emissions by an impressive 78 per cent.

Do the sloping floor management system and “Fermented Herb Extract” (FHE) have an effect on emissions of NH₃, CH₄ and N₂O? This is what researchers from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna intended to find out.

The study

In mechanically ventilated areas with 16 bays, each of which housed ten to twelve pigs, emissions of greenhouse gases and odours were measured using a high-resolution FTIR spectrometer.

The effect of the probiotic additive was tested in area 1, the area with manure removal using sluicing. Firstly, a solution with a high concentration (7 litres of MK Soil in 7 litres of water) was sprayed daily in the pig pen. Later, the amount was reduced (4 litres of MK Soil in 4 litres of water). After a while, FHE was added to the liquid feed (3 litres of FHE in 1,000 litres of feed).

TOC emissions from a barn with a sloping floor for fattening pigs with and without the use of FHE/MK Soil (TOC emissions as an indicator of the potential odour emissions)

Results

On average, the CH₄ emissions were reduced by 33 per cent. In the case of the NH₃ emissions, the reduction was 22 per cent and the N₂O emissions fell by around 40 per cent. This means an overall reduction of 35 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the total organic carbon (TOC) emissions, which are an indicator of the potential odour emissions, fell by 78 per cent.

Back to the overview

Do you have questions about the studies?

We will be happy to answer them!

Head of Research and Development, Quality Management

Katharina Kraxberger BSc MSc

Phone:

+43 7247 50 250 149

Email:

katharina.kraxberger@multikraft.at