In this study, the performance of a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from swine wastewater was evaluated. The replacement rate of wastewater was set at 12.5% throughout the experiment. The anaerobic and aerobic times were 3 h and 7 h, respectively, and the dissolved oxygen concentration of the aerobic phase was about 3.95 mg.L-1. The SBBR process demonstrated good performance in treating swine wastewater. The percentage removal of total chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) was 98.2%, 95.7%, 95.6%, and 96.2% at effluent concentrations of COD 85.6 mg.L-1, NH4+-N 35.22 mg.L-1, TN44.64 mg.L-1, and TP1.13 mg.L-1, respectively. Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification phenomenon was observed. Further improvement in removal efficiency of NH4+-N and TN occurred at COD/TN ratio of 11: 1, with effluent concentrations at NH4+-N 18.5 mg.L-1 and TN 34 mg.L-1, while no such improvement in COD and TP removal was found. Microbial electron microscopy analysis showed that the filler surface was covered with a thick biofilm, forming an anaerobic-aerobic microenvironment and facilitating the removal of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matters. A long-term experiment (15 weeks) showed that stable removal efficiency for N and P could be achieved in the SBBR system. (C) 2014 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.