Degradation of doxycycline in aged pig manure

Two types of studies were carried out to characterise the degradation rate of doxycycline in manure. In the laboratory experiment, pig manure containing doxycycline was stored in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) bottles in a thermoregulated room at a temperature of 20 ± 3.5 °C to maintain the humid and anaerobic incubation conditions, and the relevant temperature. In the field study, the traditional manure composting process used by small farms and household plots was demonstrated, in which the manure heap containing doxycycline was exposed to the regular environmental conditions. In the laboratory experiment more than 30% and in the field study about 10% of the initial doxycycline amount could be detected in manure samples after 16 and 12 weeks of manure ageing period, respectively. Based on the results obtained from the studies performed under laboratory and field conditions, the half-life of doxycycline in manure was calculated to be 52.5 and 25.7 days, respectively.