In-house storage is now common among many new hog buildings.  With respect to odor, the primary idea behind in-house storage is "out of site-out of mind".  This storage technique helps contain a few more odors; however, since the manure is directly underneath the pigs, pit ventilation is needed to remove the potentially poisonous odors.  This ventilation is beneficial for the hogs but becomes problematic for neighbors who have to endure the upwind operation. 

With in-house storage the most common technique to combat the odor is to dump pit additives to eat the odor-producing bacteria.  Many farmers have tried pit additives and they all work to some degree, but the odor is still present.  Currently this is the best solution, next to correctly balancing the hog’s diet, to odor control that anybody has commercially developed. 

Ozone Distribution System: 
Ozone Solutions Inc., ozone distribution system reduces odor better than anything else on the commercial market.  The ozone provides constant suppression of the primary hog odors such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.  The hogs are breathing cleaner air, which results in faster growth.  The hog’s immune system is stronger; therefore, they are able to combat many more diseases and viruses.  Better air quality means less respiratory problems, which increases hog’s performance. 

There are many variables that need to be considered when installing this ozone distribution system.  Here are just a few. 

• Dimensions of the hog building including pit
• Number and size of the hogs
• Location, number, and CFM of each ventilation/pit fan
• Distance between floor and manure surface
• Location and number of ceiling vents

Formation and Uses of Ozone: 
Ozone is present throughout nature.  Ozone occurs around crashing surf, white water rapids, and lightning storms.  Ozone is nature's air freshener.  Ozone has a distinct 'electrical' odor.  Every lightning bolt produces ozone that eliminates odors present in the air.  This is the reason the air smells fresh after a strong electrical storm. 

How Ozone is Created: 
Air contains 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% other gases.  Ozone is created when an electrical discharge (a spark) occurs in the presence of oxygen.  The electrical discharge causes a stable oxygen molecule (O₂) to split into two single oxygen atoms.  These single oxygen atoms (O) are very unstable and combine with other oxygen molecules (O₂) to produce ozone.  The molecular arrangement of ozone is three atoms of oxygen (O₃).  See diagram below. 

Ozone is extremely unstable and easily reacts with other chemicals.  This reaction is called oxidation.  Oxidation occurs when electrons are exchanged between molecules, which changes their molecular structure.  The most familiar type of oxidation occurs when iron is exposed to air.  The oxygen in the air reacts (oxidizes) with the iron to produce what is commonly known as rust.  The presence of oxygen has changed the chemical structure of the iron.  Ozone has the same oxidizing effect but oxidizes many more substances at a faster rate. 

Uses: 
Ozone is one of nature's strongest oxidizers.  Because of ozone's air-freshening effect by oxidation of odors, ozone generators are now used to freshen the air in offices and industrial facilities.  Many of these generators use a process called corona discharge to produce the ozone.  Corona discharge occurs by producing controlled sparks in the presence of oxygen.  Ozonation is a process of injecting ozone into the air.  The ozone reacts with the odor to produce odorless gases.  The most common products of a complete oxidation process are water vapor and carbon dioxide.  The remaining ozone eventually breaks down into oxygen (O₂) after approximately 30-60 minutes. 

Application of Ozone in Swine Facilities: 
Ozone Solutions, Inc. is currently working to integrate an ozone distribution system in swine facilities.  Picket Fence Farms has this system installed in its hog confinements.  The results of ozone installed in their facilities have been very impressive.  See Appendix 1 below. 

In these ozone distribution systems, an air dryer dries the air to -100? F dew point.  Next, an oxygen concentrator removes the excess nitrogen and increases the oxygen concentration to 95%.  This high concentration oxygen enters the ozone generator that creates the ozone.  The ozone is pushed in front of a distribution fan where an engineered system of PVC tubing and holes help distribute the ozone.  The ozone eventually permeates the air space in the building while oxidizing odors, bacteria, mold and viruses.   Ozone is also circulated by natural air currents and eventually settles directly above the pit preventing many potentially harmful odors from reaching the hogs. 

The ozone significantly reduces the ammonia and hydrogen sulfide odor that the hogs produce.  The ozone is constantly oxidizing these odors.  The ozone also keeps the feed fresher since mold is prevented from growing.  Bacteria and viruses are reduced since ozone is oxidizing and destroying many of these pathogens. Ozone is a 24-hour disinfectant!  

The next section contains a testimony from Picket Fence Farms.  It explains the positive results that they have seen from the ozone system.  It also explains the diseases that have been reduced or eliminated on the Farm from many years of ozone use. 

Farrowing: 
The sow’s feed consumption in the ozonated room was consistently 15% - 20% better than the room that did not have ozone.  We cut back on ventilation 10 - 20%, which has resulted in a 30% saving in our heating bill.  I have also seen that the comfort of the sows has improved in the rooms where ozone is being used.  This explains why there were one-half fewer pigs laid on.  There was at least a 1-lb. heavier weaning weight, which makes a significant difference going into the nursery. 

Nursery: 
The nursery showed the same heat savings, as did the farrowing room.  I would say that the biggest problems we had in the nursery were lung problems and rhinitis.  30 - 40% of the pigs suffered from rhinitis.  After we put ozone in one of the rooms we saw rhinitis eliminated from that room, while the other room was still at 30 - 40%.  Our death loss before ozone was at 1 - 2% and was cut in half after ozone.  None of these deaths were respiratory.  I was able to do split weanings instead of all-in/all-out and still cut the death loss in half. 

Finisher: 
Another exciting thing we saw was in the finishing house.  I had to put 589 pigs in a room that holds 300 head.  Right after I did this, our farm broke with PRRS.  Needless to say, we were waiting for a train wreck.  Well, the train wreck came but not in the room I thought it would.  It happened in the rooms without ozone.  Anyone who has had PRRS knows what a devastating disease it can be.  Out of 589 head, which were not vaccinated, I only lost two pigs.  One other thing I would like to comment on is even though we had overcrowded this room there were no signs of tailbiters.  We have also noticed a reduction in hog odor around the whole farm. 

We are excited about what ozone has done for us and think you will be too. 
 
 
   

75% decrease in Ecoli scours 
50% decrease in number of pigs laid on 
15% increase in the pigs weaning weight 

The sows consumed up to 20% more feed because of better air quality.  With better feed consumption the sows are more comfortable, which is the main reason for less pigs laid on and also the increase in the pigs weaning weight.  The increase of better air quality and the ability for ozone to oxidize or kill bacteria accounts for the decrease in Ecoli scours and other scours and also gives noticeably cleaner, pinker, and healthier looking pigs. 

Benefits seen in the Nursery: 

100% decrease or no signs of PRRS 
100% decrease of Rhinitis (We had 30% visible signs before ozone.) 
90% reduction of Pneumonia 
90% reduction of Scours 
50% reduction of Staph and Strep Infections 
90% reduction of Grease Pig 

Weight gains in the nursery went from 0.6 lbs. to 1 lbs. or more average daily gain.  Death loss went from 2.6% to less than 0.6%, and the all-in/all-out pig flow did not have to be maintained.  Without ozone and continuous flow, the death loss climbed to 25% or more at times.  Infection of pig’s ears, etc. (which came from the fighting due to commingling) healed faster and the pigs skin stayed noticeably pinker and healthier looking with the ozone. 

Benefits seen in the Finisher: 

100% decrease or no signs of PRRS 
100% decrease of Rhinitis 
90% reduction of Pneumonia 
50% reduction of death loss (from 3% to 1.5% for less) 

Pigs in the finisher showed all of the same benefits as seen in the nursery but we do not have a lot of the groups recorded to give in-depth account.  Visual signs were no rhinitis (with 30% for more before ozone with bull nose), and no sign of PRRS or Pneumonia.