title: Hygienic aspects of livestock manure management and biogas systems operated by small-scale pig farmers in Vietnam.
abstract: Biogas digesters are widely promoted and increasingly used to treat and generate gas from pig slurry worldwide. The objective of this study was to describe manure management practices with focus on biogas digestion among small scale pig farmers in Hue (50 farmers) and Hanoi (96 farmers) and to assess fecal contamination levels in biogas effluent. Results showed that 84% of the farmers in Hanoi and 42% in Hue used both pig slurry and human excreta for biogas production. Biogas digestion only reduced E. coli concentrations by 1 to 2 log units to 3.70 ± 0.84 Escherichia coli (log10) cfu/ml on average in effluent as compared with raw slurry. Biogas effluent was commonly used to fertilize vegetables or discharged directly into the garden or aquatic recipients. Reduced problems with bad smells and flies were reported as main reasons for establishing a biogas digester. Further studies are needed to assess human and animal health hazards associated with the discharge and use of biogas effluent from small-scale biogas systems.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Veterinary Research, 86 Truong Chinh road, Dong Da district, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Department of Veterinary Diseases Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 15, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: lqhuong@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Luu Quynh
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Huong
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diseases Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 15, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: hmad@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.affiliation: Hue Universities of Agriculture and Forestry, 120 Phung Hung Road, Hue, Viet Nam. Electronic address: lexuananh79@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Le Xuan
authors.initials: le X
authors.lastname: Anh
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Veterinary Research, 86 Truong Chinh road, Dong Da district, Hanoi, Viet Nam. Electronic address: ngoc27169@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Pham Thi
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ngoc
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diseases Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 15, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: adal@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalsgaard
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D058751:Livestock; D008372:Manure; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D014744:Vietnam; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008372:Manure
keywords: Biogas effluent; E. coli; Health hazards; Pig slurry; Vietnam