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05/08/2009

May 8, 2009 - Land Grant-CNR Opens its Demonstration Piggeries
by CNR Staff

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In 2006, the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) conducted a territorial-wide piggery survey to identify each and every piggery. The survey documented 1,017 illegal piggeries operating in American Samoa , including the piggery at the ASCC Community and Natural Resources Division (CNR), which did not have a Land Use Permit or, according to ASEPA, an adequate animal waste system. Striving to create an example of a compliant piggery, CNR entered into an agreement with ASEPA whereby the existing piggery would be renovated to demonstrate the options available to pig farmers. This demonstration would serve as an educational facility which farmers could visit and ask questions about.

The American Samoa Coral Reef Advisory Group joined ASEPA in funding the demonstrations. Mr. Brian Rippy of the American Samoa Soil and Water Conservation District (AS-SWCD), funded by the Administration for Native Americans grant "Pigs in Paradise : Retaining a Samoan Cultural Tradition," contributed his expertise in designing three distinct model piggeries, and provided the engineering oversight for the construction phase. Globe Engineering & Maintenance Services was awarded the contract to renovate the piggery.

The opening, held on May 8, attracted not only farmers, but also a number of dignitaries, including Governor Togiola Tulafono. The visitors were given a firsthand look at the three piggery options approved by ASEPA, which include a portable pig pen, a dry litter system, and two wash down systems with solid waste separators. The attendees were impressed with the simplicity of the technology and the fact that it results in no bad odor from the pigs.

The portable pigpen system consists of an 8' x 8' pen covered by a roof. It can house two large pigs, a sow and litter, up to six weaners or four size two pigs. Wood chips are placed into the pen to initiate an aerobic treatment process of the pig manure known as composting. As the pigs move back and forth, the manure gets mixed with the wood chips, promoting composting which eliminates pathogens, odors and flies. The only water in the system comes through a water nipple, which provides the pigs with drinking water on demand. After a period of two to four months, depending on how many pigs are in the system, the pen is moved or rotated to a new 8' x 8' section. The pig manure and wood chip mix is collected and composted in bins, and after being fully composted is used to fertilize vegetables, taro or bananas. Between two to three cubic yards of wood chips are necessary over the two to four month period. A rotation area of 64 ft 2 is necessary for each portable pen.

Similar to the portable pigpen, the dry litter system also utilizes the composting process to treat the pig waste. The main features are the use of woodchips and steeply sloping concrete floors As the pigs do their business and move back and forth over the wood chip area, the manure gets mixed in with the wood chips. The floor has a 6% slope, which causes the wood chip/manure mix to slowly slide out of the pen into a collection alley. Every two weeks, the composting waste in the collection alley is removed and placed in bins. After composting, it can be used as fertilizer for taro, bananas, and a variety of vegetables. As with the portable pigpen, the only water in the pen is the water nipple. This eliminates the use of water to clean the pens.

The third option, the wash down system, is familiar to most pig farmers here in the territory. The CNR piggery features two different systems. One consists of a metal solid waste separator, a two-chamber septic tank ,and a drain field in which bananas, papayas and other "soft" rooted plants can be grown. The other wash down system, the Ihaka system (named after its founder Lance Ihaka), uses filter bags in two solid waste separators and a liquid effluent storage tank. When washing the pens, the liquid and solids wastes enter one of the solid separators. The liquid waste drains out and is used to irrigate various crops including bananas, papaya, eggplant and pineapple. The solids remain in the separator tank. When one separator is filled with solid waste (usually after about six months, depending on the number of pens and pigs in the system), the flexible hose is moved to the second separator. In the six months it takes for the second tank to fill, the manure in the first tank is drying. Once sufficiently dried, the solids can be either composted in the compost bin or used as a fertilizer. When the second separator is filled with pig manure, the flexible hose is once again moved to the first separator tank.

In all these systems, the pig manure is composted. A necessary component of this process is a carbon source, i.e. dry leaves, wood chips, or dry shredded coconut husks. Wood chips are available for purchase, through a cooperative agreement with Fofoga Electrical Services and the AS-SWCD. For more information on wood chips, call Sopoaga of Fofoga Electrical Services at 258-3408, or view the ad on Pacific Island Cable Channel 3. The wood chip facility is located behind Samoa Post in the Industrial Park

Brian Rippy said he was happy to see the completion of the demonstration piggery, and encouraged piggery farmers to visit CNR and see it for themselves. "These three piggery options eliminate the problem of waste polluting groundwater and streams. There is no odor if properly managed, and the compost is a valuable fertilizer for crops," explained Rippy.

The public is invited to tour the demonstration piggeries at CNR, located behind the college gym. Field trips for students can be arranged by calling CNR at 699-1575.