This is not a peer-reviewed article. Pp. 152-158 in Swine Housings II Proceedings of the 12-15 October 2003 Conference (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina USA), Publication Date 12 October 2003. ASAE Publication Number 701P1303, ed. L.D. Jacobson. SURVEY MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL F ACTORS FROM BEDDED SWINE SYSTEMS J. D. Harmon, D. S. Bundy, T. L. Richard, S. J. Hoff, and A. Beatty ABSTRACT Six deep bedded swine finishing production sites were surveyed for hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and odor concentrations. Each site was observed four different times with readings 6 times over a 36 hour period. Hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and odor were measured at the building edge and downwind 30 m (100 ft). Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia were measured 150 m (500 ft) downwind also. The site averages for hydrogen sulfide were found to range from 25 to 228 ppb at the building edge, 4 to 17 ppb 30 m (100 ft) downwind and 4 to 8 ppb 150 m (500 ft) downwind. Ammonia site averages were found to range from 2 to 11 ppm at the building edge, undetectable to 3 ppm downwind 30 m (100 ft) and undetectable at 150 m (500 ft). Odor threshold site averages ranged from 130 to 630 at the building and 80 to 500 at a point 30 m (100 ft) from the building. Single point hydrogen sulfide monitors were used 30 m (100 ft) from the building at the four compass points. The downwind monitor yielded weighted averages ranging from 0.8 to 8.1 ppb for the six sites. Analyzing this data by separating it by atmospheric stability classes did not appear to indicate a trend. KEYWORDS. Swine Housing, Air Quality, Emission Concentration, Deep Bedded Packs INTRODUCTION Deep bedded hoop structures (Figure 1) can be an attractive alternative for some farms raising livestock. As compared to more traditional facilities, they have a lower purchase price, they are more flexible for alternative uses, and they provide an alternative management system that may be attractive to some producers (Brumm et al., 1997, 1999, Honeyman et al., 1999). It is generally believed that deep-bedded hoop structures used for raising swine produce fewer air quality problems than comparable liquid-manure swine production facilities. However, this assumption has not been proven thus far. Limited air quality monitoring has been done on hoop structures. Types of bedding material, frequency of adding bedding, and amount of bedding and environmental conditions may greatly affect the air quality generated from hoop buildings. A survey of several buildings will help determine the variability of air quality from different producers’ facilities. OBJECTIVES The objectives for this study include the following: • Select six different deep-bedded swine finishing production sites which are unencumbered by other swine production units, manure piles and objects which would change the air flow around the site. Figure 1 A typical deep-bedded hoop structure used for swine.