Ventilation
Front view of the TVS-2000
Effective Environmental Temperature (EET) is the temperature the animal actually feels after taking into account the effects of humidity level, wind chill due to air movement across the animals, conductive heat loss to floor surfaces, and radiant heat loss or gain to walls and ceiling. These effects are subtracted or added to the ambient room temperature to come up with the EET.
Easy Installation Possible
The best way to measure the ideal temperature for the greatest comfort level of the pig is by use of EET. Ideally for the greatest efficiency of production, we would like to minimize the amount of thermoregulatory effort required by the animal. This temperature zone is referred to as the Thermoneutral Zone (TNZ) and is the temperature zone for the animal which requires the least amount of thermoregulatory effort (energy) to maintain homeothermy. The lower end of the TNZ is the zone of best performance and is referred to as the Lower Critical Temperature (LCT).
Breathing easy
LCT is such an important temperature economically, because at this temperature the animals are able to minimize feed conversion while maximizing average daily gain. The reduced stress associated with this idealized temperature may also result in healthier animals and lower labor costs.
What are the some of the major challenges we face to operate a system or room at the pig's LCT? Most of the mechanical means we employ today do a poor job of controlling ambient temperature in the room much less the air speed across the animal or the surface temperature of the room. This lack of precise control increases the volatility of fluctuations in the EET of the room. To add to the challenge, the LCT of the pig is an ever changing target as the pigs grow and feed consumption varies.
What are some of the variables affecting the LCT of the pig at any given time?
- Age
- Body weight
- Most commonly used to estimate desired room temperature
- Best practical means of operating a room at LCT
- Intake energy
- Cover insulation
- Tissue insulation
- Lying position
- Lying pattern
TVS-2000 Ventilator
What are the "Critical Factors" to consider when designing an environmental control system to optimize performance and health of the animals?
- Temper inlet air within 8°F of room temperature
- Control floor air velocity at 3/4 mph in cooler weather
- Automatic temperature control within ±1.0 °F
- Precise temperature adjustments in 1.0 °F increments
- Air to surface gradients of 2 °F
- Precise air patterns in varying room designs
- Automated inlet system
- Fresh air quantity independent of inlet velocity
The need for a better way to precisely control the effective Environmental Temperature led to the creation of the TVS-2000 "Total Ventilation Solution." These systems have been utilized for the past 20 years in new and retrofit installations across the Southern and Midwestern United States. They have been successfully used in farrowing, nursery, finish, gestation, and breeding rooms.
"The environment in which the animal is maintained is the single most important factor affecting productivity. This statement refers to environment in a narrow sense, the air the animal breathes, the floor on which it stands, the number of its companions in a given area, and the means by which it is confined. Many diseases can be prevented or controlled by proper environment."
W. D. Morrison, Professor
Department of Animal and Poultry Science
University of Guelph
