Measurement and analysis of ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and odour emissions from the cattle farming in Estonia

•Calculated emission factors (EF) comparable with data from literature.•Good correlation between measured and modelled levels of NH3 and H2S.•H2S EF comparable to the few values found in literature.•Lower emissions from the tie compared to loose housing systems.•Higher emissions from the solid compared to liquid manure storage.

Emissions from cattle farms in Estonia may vary from emissions in other regions of Europe due climatic differences and the housing systems used. Emission factors (EF) for the tie and loose housing systems for dairy farming were measured. Ammonia, odour and H2S emission measurements were made in tie and loose housing cattle farms with solid and liquid manure systems. Measurement were carried out in 2007 (10 different days from February to October) and in 2013 (in 30 different days in July–August). The gaseous EFs calculated for the tie housing cow building were 5.34 ± 0.47 kg [NH3] y−1 AU−1, 19.36 ± 4.39 g [H2S] y−1 AU−1 and for odour was 1.77 ± 3.06 OU y−1 AU−1. The EFs for the loose housing cow barn were 6.50 ± 4.01 kg [NH3] y−1 AU−1, 51.34 ± 30.34 g [H2S] y−1 AU−1 and for odour were 15.63 ± 20.96 OU y−1 AU−1. The NH3 and H2S EFs were validated through dispersion modelling against ambient levels measured in vicinity of the farms using passive samplers. An Eulerian advection-diffusion model with meteorological data was used to validate NH3 and H2S emission data. There was in general good correlation between measured and modelled levels for NH3 in both farms and for H2S in farm B. In general the EF were reliable and can be used in local and regional emission inventories and in dispersion calculations, but variation of emissions with temperature needs be taken into account. Further research is required to investigate emissions from more dairy farms over longer periods.