October 2024 - Journal F e - Flipbook - Page 6
Health
VENTILATION CHALLENGES:
Practical Solutions For Healthier Pigs
Jeff Blythe, DVM
Veterinarian
Pipestone Veterinary Services
Dr. Jeff Blythe grew up on a crop and livestock farm in Williamsburg,
Iowa, and earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa
State in 1991. He joined the Orange City Vet Clinic in 1992, became
a partner in 1994, and joined Pipestone Holdings after its 2018
acquisition. Dr. Blythe is now the managing veterinarian for the Orange
City location.
Nick En昀椀eld
Production Consultant
FarmPro, Pipestone Business
Nick En昀椀eld grew up outside of Collins, IA, where his family raised and
marketed show sheep and seed stock throughout the Midwest. He
joined PIPESTONE in 2018 as a Production Consultant, bringing over
15 years of experience in commercial swine production to the FarmPro
team.
Effective ventilation is one of the most critical
factors in maintaining a healthy and productive swine
operation. It in昀氀uences air quality, temperature control,
and the overall environment for the pigs. However,
achieving the right balance in ventilation comes with its
challenges, especially when factoring in barn design,
fan ef昀椀ciency, and climate conditions.
Precision in managing air昀氀ow, temperature, and
humidity is vital. Dr. Blythe shares, “I always carry an
anemometer and an infrared gun to measure airspeed
and temperature. These tools can help identify
potential issues before they become major problems.”
Additionally, monitoring equipment placement is just
as crucial: “Probe placement can make or break your
barn’s environment. If probes are taking on air straight
out of the inlets, or directly from a heater it can make
the barn seem cooler or hotter than it really is.”
Common Ventilation Challenges
• Inconsistent Air昀氀ow: Poor air昀氀ow can lead to areas
of the barn with stagnant air or high humidity, which
are breeding grounds for pathogens like bacteria and
viruses.
• Temperature Control Issues: Proper temperature
control is essential, especially since pigs’ comfort can
be impacted by even small 昀氀uctuations.
• Humidity Problems: High humidity in the barn can
exacerbate respiratory issues and provide a fertile
environment for disease. Low humidity, on the other
hand, can lead to excess dust, dehydration, and
stress in pigs.
• Fan Degradation: Over time, fans can lose ef昀椀ciency
due to dirt, debris, and general wear, making it
harder to maintain consistent air昀氀ow and adequate
ventilation. Functional equipment is paramount
Addressing Ventilation Challenges
Probe Placement & Monitoring
Proper probe placement is vital. If the temperature
probes are placed in direct line to an air inlet or
heater, the controller might read a lower or higher
temperature than the pigs are experiencing. This results
in a suboptimal environment and potential discomfort
for the pigs. “We found probes placed right between
inlets,” En昀椀eld recalls. “The probes were reading much
cooler temperatures than the actual barn temperature
because they were getting air directly from those inlets,
while the pigs were much warmer. You want to be
making ventilation decisions for where the pigs are, not
where the air is coming in,” Blythe stresses.
Maintaining Fan Ef昀椀ciency
Catch more of
this discussion
on the
SwineTime
podcast!
6 | PIPESTONE JOURNAL
Fan ef昀椀ciency is a recurring issue in barns, especially
when dirt and manure accumulate on the equipment.
The ef昀椀ciency of tunnel fans can degrade by as much
as 15%, while pit fans can lose about 10% ef昀椀ciency
