Odour modelling review - Pacific Air & Environment
| Project start date: | 01 December 2006 |
| Project end date: | 31 July 2007 |
| Publication date: | 31 July 2007 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Sheep, Goat, Lamb, Grassfed cattle, Grainfed cattle |
Summary
Odour is a major issue for the feedlot industry. One of the most challenging aspects for consultants and thus the feedlot industry is the availability of representative odour emissions data and the use of an industry-specific odour nuisance criteria for feedlots. MLA funded project, FLOT.323D "Development of odour performance criteria for the Australian feedlot industry", developed an odour assessment protocol for Australian feedlots.
The protocol was applied to four operating feedlots which varied in location and thus rainfall (summer and winter dominant rainfall) and several key management aspects. The output from the odour assessment protocol reflected the differences in climate, feedlot size and management. Odour impact contours were plotted around each feedlot for three percentiles (98%, 99% and 99.5%). Based on local knowledge, the appropriate odour concentration to cause odour nuisance was determined.
The range of criteria determined in this work for the 99% percentile are 50-250 ou, results which do not fit easily within any regulatory framework within Australia. This is one of two projects that were undertaken to review the odour assessment protocol developed and compare the modelling outcomes across a broader range of feedlot locations. The review process provided recommendations on a way forward for this work, and these recommendations are currently being implemented.
