Effects of odor management practices on MSY and odor emission in domestic swine farms

This study examined how the management of major odor-related factors in swine farms affects farm productivity, measured as marketed pigs per sow per year (MSY).A total of forty commercial farms across Korea were surveyed using a ten-item odor management index that covered four main areas, namely feeding management, housing and ventilation, cleanliness, and pit management.Correlation and multiple regression analyses were carried out to determine how each management factor was related to official MSY records.The overall odor management score showed a strong positive association with MSY (r=0.73,p<0.001).Among the individual indicators, barn ventilation, growth-stage feeding system, and slurry pit cleaning were found to have independent and significant effects on MSY (β=0.214,0.187, and 0.176; all p≤0.01).To further explore these relationships, a field trial was conducted to assess how slurry storage duration influences ammonia concentration.Farms that removed slurry every three weeks maintained around 17% lower average ammonia levels than farms without removal, and the difference became more evident during the late fattening phase (days 44~60, p<0.05).Overall, the findings suggest that effective management of odor-related factors can directly enhance productivity in swine farms.Improving ventilation, applying precise feeding by growth stage, and maintaining regular pit cleaning can serve as practical and achievable measures for producers.These results provide valuable field-based evidence that may help guide future odor management practices and policy planning aimed at sustainable productivity improvement in the pig industry.