Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentration and emission patterns for mono-slope beef cattle facilities in the Northern Great Plains

Abstract. Mono-slope buildings are one type of roofed and confined cattle feeding facility that is becoming increasingly popular in the Northern Great Plains. In response to questions and concerns about the barn environment and air quality regulations, the objectives of this study were to determine gas concentrations in and emissions from these beef cattle facilities and relate these air quality parameters to environmental and manure management factors. Four producer-owned and operated mono-slope beef cattle facilities were monitored continuously for one month each quarter for two years to capture both daily and seasonal variations in gas concentrations, airflow and related environmental data. Two barns maintained deep-bedded manure packs (Pack) and two barns scraped manure and bedding from the pens weekly (Scrape). The north wall curtain openings were adjusted by the producers seasonally or daily, and classified as Open (> 1.5 m, mean = 2.1 m) or Closed (