Influence of housing technology on dust level in cowsheds

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the results of microclimatic research focused on dust pollution in buildings of different housing technologies used for breeding of cattle. The constructions selected for this research include the old cowshed with stanchion housing and pipeline milking system inside the cowshed on the tying stalls with straw bedding, but also very modern building with loose housing technology without straw bedding, equipped with milking robots and mobile feeding technology. The results are compared with a reconstructed cowshed used for housing of fattening cattle and with dust pollution in the area near to the shed used for storage of straw. In the frame of this research the concentration of air dust was measured by exact instrument DustTRAK II Model 8530 aerosol monitor. Using the special impactors the PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10 size fractions were also measured. The results indicate that the OEL value of 6,000 µg·m-3 was never exceeded. Total dust concentration 238.5 µg·m-3 was significantly higher in the shed for straw storage than in the other buildings. The limit value of PM10 (50 µg·m-3) applicable to the external environment has been exceeded in both buildings with straw bedding. The mean values of PM10 measured in the old cowshed (PM10 = 69.8 µg·m-3) and the building for fattening of beef cattle (PM10 = 74.0 µg·m-3) are significantly higher than PM10 values measured in the new cowshed without straw or in the hayloft for straw storage. Differences between the concentrations of fractions PM4 and PM2.5 in all tested buildings are statistically significant. The biggest concentration of these fractions was in the cattle houses with straw bedding. The limit value of PM2.5 (25 µg·m-3) has been exceeded in all measured buildings. The mean values of PM1 measured in both cattle houses with straw bedding are significantly higher than the PM1 values in the cowshed without straw or in the hayloft for straw storage.