EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Measurement of odour emissions from swine operations is a difficult task. Olfactometers are currently the most accepted method for odour measurement. However, obtaining downwind odour samples that are representative to what is actually “felt ” by those in the field is almost impractical. The goal of this study was to evaluate a potentially more satisfactory method of evaluating odour directly in the field. This method was developed by St. Croix Sensory Inc. (Stillwater, MN) to use trained human odour assessors (Nasal Rangers) to quantify odour intensity according to n-butanol reference scales. The specific objective of this study was to establish a relationship between odour intensity assessed by the Nasal Ranger technique and odour concentration measured with olfactometers. Four swine production sites were selected for this study, two located in Southern Manitoba and two in Central Alberta. A total of 154 samples were collected in 10 L Tedlar bags from the four sites between June and October, 2001. While these samples were being collected, odour intensity of the ambient air was assessed (the field odour intensity) by two or more Nasal Rangers using the 8-point n-butanol reference scale. Odour intensity of bagged samples was also measured in the laboratory by the Nasal Rangers. Odour concentrations of bagged samples wer