Influence of the physiological status of sows on ammonia and hydrogen sulfide levels in the air of pig housing facilities

Relevance . Toxic gases, NH₃ and H₂S, play an important role in the formation of the sanitary state of the air environment in pig breeding premises. Their emission is determined by a complex of interrelated technological and biological factors. At the same time, the role of animals as a potential source of gas production remains insufficiently studied. Methods . The object of the study was the production facilities of the technological module for keeping sows. The concentrations of NH₃ and H₂S were determined by gas chromatography in the air of the farrowing, insemination and waiting rooms during the sanitary break (control period) and during the housing of a technological group of animals (experimental period). The variability of the parameters was assessed using a set of statistical methods. Results . The concentration of gases in the indoor air depends on the room type and its production load. During the sanitary break, the concentration of NH₃ and H₂S is 2.27–3.21 times lower than during the housing of the technological group of sows. The levels of NH₃ and H₂S increase in the sequence “farrowing room – insemination room – waiting room” by 2.90–3.10 times for ammonia and by 2.81–3.86 times for hydrogen sulfide in both control and experimental periods. The concentration of NH₃ exceeds that of H₂S by 2.47–3.86 times. During all periods of facility operation, gas concentrations do not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC). One-way ANOVA confirmed a significant influence of the factor “room type” (equivalent to the physiological status of sows) on the formation of the gas air environment and on the correlation between hydrogen sulfide and ammonia concentrations.