Sanitisation of pig farm effluents

This literature study is an opportunity to review our knowledge on the presence of pathogenic germs in pig farm effluent and the risk of contamination of persons and animals, and on the efficacy of sanitisation of such effluents by different management and treatments practices.The information compiled in this literature review enables us to rank the main effluent management processes according to their sanitisation efficacy. Thus biological treatment by active sludge, composting, and methanisation under thermophilic conditions provide a globally satisfactory sanitisation for most pathogenic germs. However,they do not fully guarantee protection against certain resistant germs and (or) heavy initial contamination.Even so, the literature shows that in ordinary conditions of pig farm operation, proven instances of contamination of the food chain downstream of effluent spreading are extremely rare and have occurred only in exceptional circumstances.