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Other publication2014

Comparison between air inlet via channels under the building and air inlets via the ceiling for growing-finishing pigs

Botermans, Jos; Jeppsson, Knut-Håkan; Olsson, Anne-Charlotte; Damsted, Erik

Abstract

The aim of the studies was to compare the indoor climate between two different ventilation systems for growing-finishing pigs. In one housing system the air came into the pig house via channels under the lying area of the pigs. The air came into the compartment close to the lying area of the pigs. The first part of the exhaust air was via another channel along the manure channel (pit ventilation). The rest of the exhaust air was via two fans in the ceiling (farm 1). In the other housing system the air came into the pig house via air inlets in the ceiling. The exhaust air was via two fans in the ceiling (farm 2). Measurements were done during one summer batch and one winter batch. Air temperature was measured for 5-8 weeks with mini-loggers. Ammonia concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, air speed and differences in air pressure between in and outside the pig house, were registered at 4 occasions. During summer time, the temperature of incoming air via the channels under the building (farm 1) was almost the same as the temperature of the air outside. So the cooling effect in the channels was very small. However, on the farm with air inlets in the ceiling (farm 2), the incoming air, during the afternoon, was about 3 0C above the temperature outside. So during the warmest period of the day, the air was heated on the ceiling. On the farm with channels under the lying area, the pigs continued to lie on the concrete lying area instead of the slatted flooring and the cleanliness of the pens was good (farm 1). During winter time, the temperature of the incoming air via the channels under the building was about 4 0C above the air temperature outside. On the farm with air inlets in the ceiling, the air temperature of the incoming air was the same as the temperature of the air outside.

Keywords

pig energy ventilation

Published in

Title: International Conference of Agricultural Engineering - AgEng 2014 Zurich
Publisher: The European Society of Agricultural Engineers (EurAgEng)