Reducing Emissions in Pig and Poultry Production
Reducing emissions in pig and poultry production plays a central role in animal welfare, climate protection and compliance with regulatory requirements. The development of low‑emission housing concepts is a dynamic field. EuroTier 2026 will provide an overview of current developments. The DLG Spotlight “Emission Reduction” in Hanover will present both proven practical measures and approaches still undergoing field testing for pig and poultry production, complemented by expert presentations on the two DLG Expert Stages for Pig and Poultry.
Environmental protection requirements in livestock farming have increased significantly in recent years. Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions remain the central focus, while odor and particulate emissions are gaining increasing attention. Farms in Germany today are required to optimize their production systems with stronger emphasis on environmental performance. At the same time, technical solutions must remain practical, economically viable and reliable. Emission reduction is no longer a stand‑alone issue, but a component of holistic farm management.
Regulatory frameworks particularly in Germany, play a key role. With the revision of the Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control (TA Luft) in Germany, in force since December 2021, requirements for permit‑relevant livestock facilities have become more stringent. Farms must document the nutrient excretion of their animals and compare it to the limits set in TA Luft. Target values include a reduction of the nitrogen content in pig slurry by around 20 percent and a reduction of nitrogen levels in dried poultry manure by roughly 10 percent, resulting in a corresponding reduction in ammonia emissions.
Guidance for suitable measures is provided by the Best Available Techniques (BAT). These include technologies and management practices that achieve a high level of environmental protection and are both technically and economically feasible. BAT measures encompass not only individual technical installations but also combine structural housing solutions, feeding strategies, technical mitigation systems and organizational management. This creates a modular toolbox from which farms can combine suitable elements according to their specific production system.
Emission Reduction in Pig Production
Feeding as a key strategy
One of the most effective emission reduction measures in pig production starts with feeding. The goal is to reduce nitrogen excretion, particularly urea, in order to limit ammonia formation at the housing level. This requires a feeding approach closely aligned to the animals’ amino acid needs. Nitrogen‑ and phosphorus‑reduced feeding strategies are recognized BAT measures and can significantly reduce ammonia release.
Housing technology and management
Alongside feeding, housing technology plays a decisive role in reducing emissions. Ammonia formation occurs primarily when feces and urine come into contact and remain on housing surfaces for extended periods. Modern housing concepts aim to interrupt the microbial process of ammonia formation as early as possible.
A key approach is the division of pens into functional areas. Clear separation of lying, activity and dunging zones guides animals to deposit their excreta in a defined area, reducing the surface on which emissions can form. This structure is particularly important in outdoor climate systems and animal‑welfare‑oriented barns with bedded areas.
Manure flow, slurry cooling and feces urine separation
Another relevant approach is reducing the emitting surface in the slurry channel by installing sloped walls, such as V‑shaped plastic gutters, which decrease the cross‑section. This is often combined with systems for rapid removal of excreta from the barn. The shorter the retention time of manure in the building, the lower the ammonia release.
Significant emission reduction potential lies in early separation of feces and urine in order to transport urine out of the barn as quickly as possible and ideally store it separately. This noticeably reduces ammonia formation. Technically, this is achieved through underfloor scraper systems with urine gutters and/or conveyor‑belt systems that regularly remove feces from the barn. In some concepts, manure belts are combined with intermediate urine pans that are flushed at regular intervals.
The temperature of slurry significantly influences microbial processes that lead to ammonia formation. Targeted cooling of the slurry can slow these processes substantially. This can be achieved through cooling pipes integrated into the slurry channel floor, with cold water circulating through them, or via floating heat‑exchanger lamellae beneath the slatted floor. Lowering the slurry temperature to below 15°C can significantly reduce emissions.
Air scrubbers and additional technologies
In large mechanically ventilated barns, air scrubbers are now an essential component of emission control. These systems filter pollutants from exhaust air and can reduce ammonia and dust emissions by at least 70 percent, while also significantly lowering odor. For larger facilities, air scrubbers are mandatory under the German Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG).
Additional approaches are currently being tested. These include slurry acidification, where reducing the pH ensures that nitrogen remains in ammonium form and cannot volatilise as ammonia. Studies show emission reductions exceeding 60 percent, although structural adjustments and corrosion protection are required.
Still in the experimental phase are so‑called urease inhibitors, which suppress the urease enzyme responsible for converting urea into ammonia. Initial results from the EmiMin project (Emissionsminderung Nutztierhaltung) by KTBL are promising, though application and approval require further evaluation.
Emission Reduction in Poultry Production
In poultry production, ammonia emissions also arise primarily from microbiological decomposition processes in manure and litter. Accordingly, many measures focus on optimised litter and housing‑climate management.
For example, pH‑lowering additives may be incorporated into the litter. Strongly reducing the pH — down to approximately pH 2 — inhibits microbial activity and chemically binds ammonia in the manure layer as ammonium sulfate.
Additional measures
Feeding also plays a significant role in emission reduction in poultry farming. Nitrogen‑ and phosphorus‑reduced feeding is likewise considered a BAT measure. Reducing crude protein content while ensuring balanced amino acid supply is an effective strategy. According to TA Luft, verified nitrogen‑reduced feeding can be credited with an ammonia reduction of around 10 percent.
For larger poultry operations with more than 40,000 animal places, air scrubbers are mandatory under BImSchG. These systems achieve emission reductions of at least 70 percent for ammonia and dust, while simultaneously reducing odor — similar to pig production.
DLG Spotlight and Expert Stages at EuroTier 2026
At EuroTier 2026, the DLG Spotlight “Emission Reduction” will present practical solutions demonstrating how modern livestock farming and environmental protection can be successfully combined. Exhibitors will showcase innovative technologies and management tools for reducing emissions in pig and poultry systems, giving farmers concrete approaches for developing their operations further. At the center is the understanding that effective emission reduction cannot be achieved through a single measure but requires a coordinated combination of technology, management and feeding.
Visitors will receive a concise overview of current developments, best‑practice examples and future pathways for environmentally and resource‑efficient production. Demonstrators of modern housing technology will be on display, including systems for slurry channels, air scrubbers, and feed and litter additives. This will be complemented by practical examples from pig and poultry farming, illustrating how feeding and management measures can reduce emissions. Innovations from research and development will provide insights into new, process‑integrated approaches. Expert presentations covering topics such as TA Luft, BAT, feeding strategies and emission‑optimized housing concepts will provide deeper context.
Content will be expanded by two species‑specific formats: the DLG Expert Stage Pig and the DLG Expert Stage Poultry. At the DLG Expert Stage Pig, exhibitors join practitioners, scientists and advisory experts to discuss how animal welfare, feeding and emission reduction can be implemented in an economically viable manner. The DLG Expert Stage Poultry focuses on the specific requirements of poultry production, including hygiene, animal welfare, feeding and environmental impact — and highlights current production concepts, innovative housing approaches and future trends for a competitive and sustainable poultry sector.