Comparison of Performance of Radiant and Forced-Convection Heaters in Swine Grow-Finish Rooms
Many energy intensive operations are a part of swine production, including ventilation, lighting, space and creep feeding, power washing and more. Energy prices keep increasing so that it is now the third highest cost of hog production. Ventilation and heating...
Application of Computer Simulation to Evaluate Potential Measures for Improving Energy Efficiency in Hog Production
Swine production is an energy-intensive industry and prices are only rising. Energy use varies widely in Saskatchewan barns, showing that there should be numerous ways to decrease the energy usage. Numerical computer simulation techniques were used to evaluate measures and...
Managing Winter Ventilation
Assuming proper ventilation parameters are monitored and daily maintenance and repairs are performed, winter ventilation is not that different than any other time of the year is Saskatchewan. Staff need to be more vigilant on ensuring day to day fluctuations...
Improving your Barn Environment
A checklist on how to improve your barn environment. Improving your Barn Environment (full article)
Demonstrating Water Conservation
An essential nutrient for pig growth is water. Water wastage leads to increased costs and often comes from nipple drinkers. When they are adjusted properly the water wasted is up to 25%, but commonly commercial farms report 40 to 60%....
Washing Procedures, Auditing Best Management Practices
The top uses of water in swine barns are drinking and cleaning. Reducing water through water conservation strategies will reduce the cost of production and have a more sustainable environmental effect as less manure is produced. Most barns audited pre-soak...
Assessing Trailer Cleanliness
An important step in maintaining biosecurity is proper washing and disinfection of transport trailers. Visual inspection is not aa reliable assessment for measuring cleanliness. Using microbiological culture works, though the plating of media and incubation time make it somewhat impractical...
Ventilating Converted Sow Rooms
Ventilation has a large effect on barn operating costs and many aspects of the environment. Using the existing ventilation system in converted sow facilities (from stall to group housing) will lead to over-ventilation during the winter as the minimum ventilation...
Prairie Swine Centre Testing Nanotechnology Applications in Pig Industry
Nanotechnology uses small particles and has many applications. One of notice is their antimicrobial properties that could aid in biosecurity and gas emissions of swine barns. Previously, they have been used for filtering air and water purification. The nanoparticle zinc...
Effectively Assessing Barn Renovations
A checklist is provided to help make objective barn investment decisions for renovations. Walk around your barn with a flashlight, a ladder and some tools to assess equipment. Four areas that are considered in this checklist are biosecurity, utilities, operation...
Geothermal Systems for Heating in Pork Production
Energy costs are increasing over the years and costs can be very high, especially in cold climates. 80% of the energy used in swine barns in Saskatchewan is for heating and ventilation costs. A geothermal system uses ground heat and...
Assessing Daily Exposure Risk of Pig Barn Workers to Airborne Contaminants
Airborne contaminants such as gases (ammonia and hydrogen sulphide) and dust, when exposed to pig barn workers increase the risk of respiratory symptoms and health problems. Occupational exposure risk was assessed when workers were doing their daily barn tasks in...
