Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.


If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

Dust Reduction from Oil-Based Feed Additives

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 23(3): 329-332. (doi: 10.13031/2013.22681) @2007
Authors:   M. Guarino, L. D. Jacobson, K. A. Janni
Keywords:   Dust, Feed, Soybean oil, Additive, Particulate matter

Dust in animal facilities is derived from feed, bedding, animal dander, and dried feces, but several studies show that much of the dust in pig housing originates from the feed. The objective of this research was to determine if adding food grade soybean oil or two commercial products at 1% or 3% levels to the feed would reduce feed dust. The study was designed to measure dust concentrations generated from ground feed that was mechanically mixed in a laboratory dust generator within an enclosed space. Concentrations of inhalable and respirable airborne dust fractions were measured over a 4-h sampling period for three treatments, food grade soybean oil, and two commercial feed additives. These same dust measurements were made during a 1-h sampling period for a control (no additive) case. Food grade soybean oil produced greater average reductions (80% to 95%) than either of the two commercial additives for the inhalable fraction. However, for the respirable dust fraction (particles < 4 m in diameter), the commercial additives reduced the concentrations more than the food grade soybean oil (especially the 1% treatment). The relatively high reductions (70% to 90%) in respirable dust by the two commercial additives (A and B) as well as the 3% soybean oil treatment are important findings since the treatments would be expected to reduce the negative health impacts of airborne feed dust on people working in pig production buildings.

(Download PDF)    (Export to EndNotes)