Control of Odour and Dust from Chicken Sheds - Review of 'add-on' technologies

Abstract

Odour and dust impacts from tunnel ventilated sheds have been identified as a significant issue for the Australian chicken meat industry. Meat chicken producers are under pressure to reduce these impacts, and need cost-effective solutions. Add-on technologies, designed to control odour and/or dust, may offer solutions to this problem. These technologies include dry dust filters, wet scrubbers, electrostatic de-dusters, odour neutralising fogging/spray systems and litter aeration, to name just a few. Unfortunately, there is little scientifically valid evidence to support the claims associated with many of these technologies. There is also a lack of readily available information regarding the costs, maintenance requirements and practical issues associated with these technologies. This report summarises the available information on a selection of add-on technologies.

This review of add-on technologies will be an important reference for anyone requiring information about add-on technologies to control odour and dust from meat chicken sheds. It will also assist the industry to identify which of these, based on further detailed investigation, may have the greatest potential to provide affordable and effective control of odour and dust.