The objectives of this study are to evaluate the economics of alternative swine waste management systems and to determine the optimal waste management strategy that maximized a representative swine producer’s profitability from production while managing swine waste in a manner that meets environmental regulations. The objectives are accomplished through the use of a mixed integer programming model. The analytical model is to determine the most profitable swine production and waste management system for representative producers in Texas and Seminole counties in Oklahoma. The major finding is that there is no single best or optimal waste management system for all sizes and types of swine operations. In general, and use of the lagoon to store and the use of an irrigation system to spread swine waste require less energy and labor and is more cost effective than other systems such as tank-hauling, pit-hauling, or lagoon-hauling systems.
ABSTRACT
I. Introduction
II. The Conceptual Framework
III. Application of Mixed Integer Linear Programming Model
IV. Data Issue and Analytic Procedure
V. Analytical Results and Interpretations
V. Concluding Remarks
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