Managing temperature, humidity and airflow in swine barns during the cold winter months can be quite the balancing act. Ventilation must be maintained properly to avoid animal health concerns, decreased feed efficiency and even mortality.
Improper ventilation management can lead to buildup of gases such as ammonia and carbon dioxide, increased humidity and temperature issues. Not only does this impact health, but the effects of overventilation can be costly, too.
As the district sales manager for AP in Iowa and Minnesota, Pat Lawler offers 3 simple tips to help producers keep this intricate balance in check for the good of their animals and their bottom line.
1. Make sure controller settings and sensors are in proper order.
Especially in the winter months with smaller pigs, humidity sensors will help mitigate humidity buildup and manage proper ventilation. Lawler says sensors work symbiotically with heating and ventilation equipment to maintain air quality while remaining efficient.
“We always stress not overtightening your controller settings during the winter months,” Lawler adds. “We want to balance the flow of fresh air coming in and the amount of heat we are putting into the barn to remain in the thermoneutral zone. The key is finding the balance between airflow and heat.”
2. Double-check your calculations.
Lawler says that growers sometimes will set their ventilation controls based on the barn space rather than the specific animals inside that barn.
“With modern technology and controls, we now have the capability to ventilate CFM per pig and based on the animal age as well,” he says. “As that pig goes through the growth cycle, we need to adjust for not only animal age, but for potential population changes in each room as well, while ensuring our ventilation is changing accordingly.”
3. Perform routine maintenance.
Attention to detail is everything. Lawler encourages producers not to overlook the little things. From adjusting ceiling inlets to cleaning fan blades and shutters, it’s the routine maintenance that often has the greatest impact.
“Coming into winter, adjust or calibrate your ceiling inlets—especially actuated ceiling inlets,” Lawler says. “That may mean walking the barn and making adjustments as cold weather sets in. As for minimum ventilation or variable-speed fans, clean fan blades and shutters to ensure air is flowing properly and components aren’t sticking open or shut.”
Remember, during the winter months, dirty fans often move far less air than you would expect, he points out.
Keep pigs healthy and maintain operational efficiency by managing ventilation systems through controls, monitoring and seasonal maintenance. Lawler says the impact of proper ventilation, especially in the winter months, cannot be overstated.
“The goal isn’t to simply add heat or move air in isolation, but to strike the right balance between airflow and heat to maintain air quality without driving unnecessary energy costs,” he says. “When ventilation is managed correctly, producers protect pig health while also controlling heating expenses and overall efficiency.”
