ABSTRACT
In Canada, the piggery industry is an essential part of the agricultural sector. In 2007 alone, this industry produced over 31 million hogs and comprised more than 64 000 jobs, with exports worth over 3 billion dollars.1,2 However, the main waste product of this industry, swine slurry, causes severe environmental problems. The anaerobic storage conditions of this waste product lead to the emission of methane (CH4), an important greenhouse gas (GHG). In fact, in Canada in 2005, swine slurry management was responsible for the release of 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent of CH4.
