As cold weather approaches, swine producers can perform barn maintenance checks now to help ensure a healthy environment for the fall and winter seasons.
Mark Oberreuter, system design engineer for AP, recommends the following checklist to prepare for cooler temperatures.
- Tunnel curtain – Make sure the tunnel curtain is sealed, with no holes or rips that could allow cold air to seep into the barn. Check that it closes all the way up, with an overlap on the top, and that curtain pockets are in place.
- Pit covers – Ensure that pit covers are tight to prevent air from short-circuiting out of the pit fan.
- Ceiling inlet settings – Confirm that inlets are in good working order and programmed at the correct uniform position at every stage of ventilation to deliver proper air velocity. For winter ventilation, ceiling inlets are usually set at a minimum ventilation opening of half an inch. Properly adjusted inlets can help prevent pigs from being chilled by a downdraft.
- Fans – Make sure that fans used during winter, usually pit fans and smaller sidewall fans, are in good working order. Check that their shutters are clean and will open easily to provide sufficient air exchange, even when only a small amount of air is going through the fan. Install winter shutter covers on fans that won’t turn on during fall and winter.
- Heaters – Clean and test heaters to make sure they are in good working order, troubleshoot any issues and replace parts as needed. Avoid setting controls too tightly, as this can cause temperatures to overshoot the set point when the heater turns on. That causes fans to ramp up, wasting heat.
Oberreuter says other important steps during the transition to cold weather include completely draining cool cells and pumps before they are put away for winter; checking that the attic insulation is intact at the proper depth; and confirming that water and feed systems are in good working order.
“Taking time now to perform these and other important maintenance steps will prepare barns for when cold weather arrives, helping to protect the health and productivity of the animals,” Oberreuter says.
For additional information, producers can contact their swine equipment dealer or visit automatedproduction.com.
