Humidity Monitoring

· Equipment

Humidity/Temperature Pen, Humidity/Temperature Data Logger and Software

· Interpretation

Adequate:	Less than 60%
Caution:	60% to 70%
Dangerous:	More than 70%

· Other Signs of Excess

Damp finishing floors. Excessive moisture on water lines. Sharp stale odor when air is inhaled.

· Common Problems

Inadequate air exchange:

- Inadequate intake or inadequate exhaust, usually both.

- Inadequate heat added to room. Example. Nursery without maintaining room temperature without heater.

- Inadequate exhaust openings in natural buildings.

· Health Problems

General: Cough increased and noticeable. Sneezing increased.

Nursery or Finishing: Losses from Strep suis (Ss), Hemophilus parasuis Hps), or Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App).

Temperature Monitoring

1. Room Temperature

· Equipment

Humidity/Temperature Pen

· Interpretation

Adequate	Within 3⁰ F. of Desired Room Temperature (DRT) settings
Failing	Room is 3⁰ F. over DRT or 3⁰ F. under DRT. Exception in summer when outside temperature exceeds DRT

· Other Signs of Excess

Heat: Pigs inactive. Group is off feed. Pen fouling. Panting if severe.

Cold: Active piling.

· Common Problems

Heating failure. Wrong DRT.

· Health Problems

Chilled Finishing: Increase of rectal prolapses (blow outs)

Chilled Farrowing and Nursery: Scours

2. Temperature Stratification

Definition: Different temperatures are found in different areas of the room at the same time.

· Equipment

Digital Thermoanemometer

Check area with quick-response highly accurate thermometer. Check front versus back, ceiling versus floor, and corners versus center.

· Interpretation

Adequate:	Temperatures in different parts of a room area should not differ more than 5⁰ F. (Exception – Tunnel ventilated buildings, front to back, especially winter.)
Problem:	Temperature variation of more than 5⁰ F. in the same room.

· Signs of Stratification

Pigs appear stressed, anxious, or uneasy in parts of a room. Signs of dampness and stale air in parts of a room and pigs are piling due to chill elsewhere in the room. Health problems in one part and not another.

“Dead Spots:” Area of room with higher humidity and higher temperature.

· Common Problems

Choke: Intake inadequate to meet exhaust needs

Uneven Intake: Excessive intake at one place in room

· Health Problems

Farrowing: Scours in litters in one part of room.

Nursery Finishing: Pneumonia, Ss/Hps/App in one part of room.

3. Excessive Daily Temperature Variation

Definition: Fluctuating room temperatures related to different times of the day.

· Equipment

Humidity/Temperature Data Logger and Software

Plot of temperature and humidity every 15 minutes for one to several days.

Hi-Lo Thermometer

Record a daily two-point high/low temperature range.

· Interpretation

Most common concern is the comparison of room temperature in the late afternoon versus early morning (day at 3 PM versus night at 5 AM).

Late Summer - Early Fall	Room temperatures should not fluctuate more than 15⁰ F. each day for over 5 days in a row.
All Spring, Most of Summer, Most of Fall, All Winter	Room temperatures should not fluctuate more than 15⁰ F. a day.

· Signs of Room Temperature Variation

Pigs appear stressed. Reduced daily intake and reduced gain. Pigs are health challenged by respiratory conditions.

· Common Problems

Late Summer yields hot days and cool nights: When daytime room runs >10⁰ F. over DRT, finishing pigs are acclimated to a high DRT. When night time room temperature falls, DRT is maintained, but pigs feel chilled.

Inadequate refinement of controller settings: Tunnel coming on during cool nights. Misters coming on at nights. Summer time ventilation settings running into the fall.

Gas pressure: Main line natural gas pressure problems cause falling night time room temperatures in the winter.

· Health Problems

Scours in nursery (Rota Virus) and farrowing (Neonatal Diarrhea)

Finishing cough. Finishing pneumonia. Flu in finishing.

4. Cycling Room Temperature

Definition: Room temperatures rise and fall every hour or less

· Equipment

Humidity/Temperature Data Logger and Software

Plot of temperature and humidity measurements taken every 15 minutes.

· Interpretation

Finding a temperature curve that is fluctuating slowly up and down (more than a 5⁰ F. range) many times a day. Obvious cycling imposed over daily high to low movement. Humidity often cycles with temperature.

· Signs of Cycling Room Temperature

Pigs may appear anxious and stressed. Reduced daily intake and reduced gain. Pigs are health challenged.

· Common Problems

Room sensors are covered, especially if protected in PCV tubes less than 3 inches in diameter. Fans on timers that have too long of a period between cycles. Oversized fans running on timers.

· Health Problems

Scours in nursery (Rota Virus). Stressed, tail biting pigs in finisher during Fall-Winter.

5. Monitoring Piglet Comfort Mat Temperatures

· Equipment

Infrared Surface Thermometer (with or without laser pointer).

· Interpretation

Mat surface temperatures should be no less than 95⁰ and no more than100⁰F.

· Signs of Cool or Hot Mats

Pigs avoiding mats and laying near sow to stay warm. Higher than normal quantities of healthy pigs being crushed.

· Common Problems

Hot Mats: Lamps too close or bulbs too large.

Cool Mats: Lamps too far or bulbs too small. Lamps placed above the divider.

· Health Problems

Hot or Cold: Crushed piglets.

Cold: Pigs are not adequately warmed in first 24 hours of life. Less likely to nurse well and thrive. Scours if chilled.

Air Movement

1. Air Intake Monitor

· Equipment

Static Pressure: Digital Manometer, Portable Magnehelic Gauge

Air Speed: Hot-Wire Anemometer, Thermoanemometer, Digital Air Velocity Probe.

· Interpretation

Static Pressure: (Remember to run a tube from the device to the outside.)

Target Room Static Pressure

.03 inches of water (3 WC)

Acceptable Static Pressure Range

025 to .035 inches of water.

(2.5 to 3.5 WC)

Air Speed: Measured at inlets.

Air Speed Too Slow	Less than 700 foot per minute
Acceptable Air Speed	700 to 1000 foot per minute at inlets
Air Speed Too Fast	More than 1000 foot per minute

· Signs of Air Intake Problems

Static pressure to high: Inadequate intake opening area. Fan louvers may snap shut and open when all fans are turned to maximum. (Choke: Room is “choked” when intake opening is not large enough to supply exhaust fan air demands at maximum output. Static pressure runs over .03 inches and air speed at inlets exceeds 1000 ft/minute.)

Air moving too slow / Static pressure too low: Air mixes inadequately. Temperature stratification occurs. Animals chilled under inlets with piling or diarrhea (piglet or nursery).

Air moving too fast: Drafts and chilling. Drafts are air movements more than 30 feet per minute, especially in farrowing crates.

· Common Problems

Static Pressure too High/Air Moving too Fast: Inadequate square inches allowed for intake. Restriction may have occurred in pathway of fresh air intake. Need to increase space allowed for intake to maintain set exhaust volume.

Static pressure Normal/Air Moving too Fast: Hallway or other preheating arrangement is heating intake air excessively during cold weather.

Static Pressure too Low/Air moving too Slow: Reduce the amount of open space for inlet. Reduce “slot width” between baffle and ceiling. Reset louvers on ceiling or wall inlets. Raise curtain. Place additional board for curtain to pass in up position in winter for added “seal” and reset drop. Doors left open when it is cool outside.

· Health Problems

Static Pressure High and Choked Inlet Space: Temperature stratification. Diarrhea in parts of the room.

Air Moving too Slow / Static Pressure too Low: Chill results in piglet diarrhea near inlet. Nursery finishing pigs refuse to lay under inlet and foul the sleeping area. Tail biting in winter.

Air moving too fast: Many farrowing crates with chilled piglets and diarrhea. Finishing experiences increased rectal prolapses (blowouts). Diarrhea in young nursery pigs.

2. Air Exhaust Monitoring

· Equipment

Most Accurate: Optical Tachometer, Contact Tachometer

Least Accurate: Hot-Wire Anemometer, Thermoanemometer, Air Velocity Probe

· Charts

Suggested Exhaust Recommendations: Lists needed CFM for individual animals (or sow and litter) by age and climate (cool, warm and hot weather). Use table and quantity of pigs to find the CFM exhaust requirements for room. The cool, warm, and hot recommendations roughly correspond to stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3. The increase of CFM capacity over cool, warm, and hot weather relates to the way room fans are added over increasing temperatures.

Approximate CFM Output of Exhaust Fans: Table determines the fan output (capacity). Collect information at the fan to use the table. Measure the fan diameter with a tape measure. The motor horsepower and motor RPM rating will be on a plate or sticker on the motor housing.

· Interpretation

Tachometer:

The RPM rating of fan may be found on a sticker or plate on the fan housing. Some are not. If fan RPM can not be found, use an anemometer to check fan efficiency. Do not confuse fan RPM and motor RPM. “Tach” the fan near center of blades when operating at maximum output. Fans should deliver the RPM specified.

Anemometer:

Measure with a tape measure the diameter of the fan or the diameter of round opening around the fan blades. Find the motor horsepower and RPM rating on motor housing. Use the “Approximate CFM Output of Exhaust Fans” table to find the CFM output the fan is rated to perform. Measure the fan output when at maximum speed by placing anemometer sensor in exhaust draft of the fan outside.

· Signs of Air Exhaust Problems

Inadequate Exhaust: High humidity, possible stratification. Most noticeable in the summer.

Excessive Exhaust: Cycling temperatures and humidity noted on data logger. Chilled pigs. Stressed pigs. Diarrhea. Pneumonia. Ss/Hps/App.

· Common Problems

Fans are inadequate or oversized for exhaust needs.

DRT is set too high and room has no heater.

Fans are not functioning properly due to worn belts, rusted or broken housings and shrouds, or motor malfunction.

Heater setting is too close to room DRT.

· Health Problems

Inadequate Exhaust: The problems of excess humidity, especially in summer. Cough noticeable. Sneezing. Ss/Hps/App.

Excessive Exhaust: The problems of cycling temperature, especially in winter. Scours in nursery. Stressed, tail biting pigs in finisher.

Monitoring Air Distribution

Definition: Air distribution is monitored to – (1) visualize how air moves in the building, finding small and large movement patterns. (2) Check airspeed of suspect air movements for rate. A fast movement (more than 30 ft/minute) is classed as a draft if it affects critical pig areas where cooling is not needed.

· Equipment

Visualize Small Air Patterns (One Point in the Room at a Time):

Borozin Smoke Gun Kit and Refills, Smoke Sticks

Visualize Large Air Patterns (Whole Room at One Time):

Insect Fogger

Measure Air Speed:

Hot-Wire Anemometer, Thermoanemometer, Air Velocity Probe

· Interpretation: Find Improper Air Distribution and Problems

Small Air Movement Patterns:

Trace intake pattern to assure that fresh air stays high against ceiling and does not fall too soon, assuring that fresh intake air mixes adequately with room air. Intake air that falls abruptly into farrowing crates or nursery-finishing sleeping areas will chill pigs and cause pen fouling or upset pen use habits.

High Air Speed Drafts:

Drafts moving across pigs, especially sleeping area. Drafts moving into areas occupied by piglets in farrowing crates. Excessive air movement cased by stir fans.

Large Air Movement Patterns:

Assure intake evenly supplies fresh air. Determine how the mass of room air is moving from the inlets toward exhaust. Patterns should move overhead and down alley ways. Assure that intake or exhaust air is not leaking into adjoining rooms. Find air leaks in sidewalls, around fan housings, and doors (unplanned intakes). Unplanned intakes may be bringing fresh air from outside or stale contaminated air from another room.

· Health Problems

Distribution: Problems of stratification and dead spots. Areas of room may be noticed where piglets experience scours or hogs have pneumonia. Ss/Hps/App.

Chill: Drafts cause diarrhea in piglets. Respiratory disease occurrence in older pigs. Tail biting can be initiated in drafty facilities.

Ammonia Monitoring

· Equipment

Ammonia Detection Tubes (with or with out air sampling pump)

· Interpretation

Adequate	Less than 15 ppm
Caution	15 to 25 ppm
Dangerous	More than 25 ppm
When ammonia is detected as an odor by personally smelling, the level is greater than 50 ppm.

· Signs of Excessive Ammonia

Pigs sneeze. Ammonia is not easily detected until levels are severe. Gains and pig health are damaged at low levels.

· Problems Related to Excess Ammonia

Ammonia is not a ventilation problem. Buildings are not ventilated to control ammonia levels. Ammonia is a waste management issue. Ammonia only comes from drying urine. As long as urine is contained in water-laden pit, ammonia will not be a problem. Ammonia is highly water-soluble. When ammonia excesses are experienced, check pit levels and look for leaky pit plugs. Old style farrowing house pan-and-auger waste systems are notorious for generating ammonia.

Ammonia is lighter-than-air, but held in the water of the pit effluent. Other pit gases leave the effluent, but are heavier-than-air. Other gases will stay in the pit and “ride” the 18 inches above the effluent like an invisible “head.” Gases are not a problem as long as pit levels are not too high, not too low, and pits are flushed as recommended.

· Health Problems

Nasal irritation. More mucus production aids growth of pasteurella bacteria. Pasteurella bacteria cause rhinitis.

Charts

· Suggested Exhaust Recommendations (Midwest Planning Service)

	Weight	Exhaust (CFM per Head)
	Lb.	Cold <35⁰	Warm 35⁰ – 70⁰	Hot >70⁰
Sow and Litter	400	20 cfm	80 cfm	500 cfm
Small Nursery Pig	12-30	2 cfm	10 cfm	25 cfm
Large Nursery Pig	30-60	3 cfm	15 cfm	35 cfm

Humidity Monitoring

· Interpretation

· Other Signs of Excess

Damp finishing floors. Excessive moisture on water lines. Sharp stale odor when air is inhaled.

· Common Problems

Inadequate air exchange:

· Health Problems

General: Cough increased and noticeable. Sneezing increased.

1. Room Temperature

Humidity/Temperature Pen

· Interpretation

Failing

· Other Signs of Excess

Heat: Pigs inactive. Group is off feed. Pen fouling. Panting if severe.

Cold: Active piling.

· Common Problems

· Health Problems

Chilled Finishing: Increase of rectal prolapses (blow outs)

Chilled Farrowing and Nursery: Scours

2. Temperature Stratification

· Equipment

Digital Thermoanemometer

· Interpretation

· Signs of Stratification

Pigs appear stressed, anxious, or uneasy in parts of a room. Signs of dampness and stale air in parts of a room and pigs are piling due to chill elsewhere in the room. Health problems in one part and not another.

“Dead Spots:” Area of room with higher humidity and higher temperature.

· Common Problems

Choke: Intake inadequate to meet exhaust needs

Uneven Intake: Excessive intake at one place in room

· Health Problems

Farrowing: Scours in litters in one part of room.

Nursery Finishing: Pneumonia, Ss/Hps/App in one part of room.

3. Excessive Daily Temperature Variation

· Equipment

Humidity/Temperature Data Logger and Software

Plot of temperature and humidity every 15 minutes for one to several days.

Hi-Lo Thermometer

Record a daily two-point high/low temperature range.

· Interpretation

· Signs of Room Temperature Variation

Pigs appear stressed. Reduced daily intake and reduced gain. Pigs are health challenged by respiratory conditions.

· Common Problems

Late Summer yields hot days and cool nights: When daytime room runs >100 F. over DRT, finishing pigs are acclimated to a high DRT. When night time room temperature falls, DRT is maintained, but pigs feel chilled.

Inadequate refinement of controller settings: Tunnel coming on during cool nights. Misters coming on at nights. Summer time ventilation settings running into the fall.

· Health Problems

4. Cycling Room Temperature

· Equipment

Humidity/Temperature Data Logger and Software

Plot of temperature and humidity measurements taken every 15 minutes.

· Interpretation

Finding a temperature curve that is fluctuating slowly up and down (more than a 50 F. range) many times a day. Obvious cycling imposed over daily high to low movement. Humidity often cycles with temperature.

· Signs of Cycling Room Temperature

Pigs may appear anxious and stressed. Reduced daily intake and reduced gain. Pigs are health challenged.

· Common Problems

· Health Problems

· Equipment

Infrared Surface Thermometer (with or without laser pointer).

· Interpretation

· Signs of Cool or Hot Mats

· Common Problems

· Health Problems

Air Movement

· Equipment

· Interpretation

Acceptable Static Pressure Range

025 to .035 inches of water.

(2.5 to 3.5 WC)

· Signs of Air Intake Problems

· Common Problems

· Health Problems

· Equipment

Most Accurate: Optical Tachometer, Contact Tachometer

· Interpretation

· Signs of Air Exhaust Problems

· Common Problems

· Health Problems

Inadequate Exhaust: The problems of excess humidity, especially in summer. Cough noticeable. Sneezing. Ss/Hps/App.

· Equipment

Visualize Large Air Patterns (Whole Room at One Time):

Insect Fogger

Late Summer yields hot days and cool nights: When daytime room runs >10⁰ F. over DRT, finishing pigs are acclimated to a high DRT. When night time room temperature falls, DRT is maintained, but pigs feel chilled.

Finding a temperature curve that is fluctuating slowly up and down (more than a 5⁰ F. range) many times a day. Obvious cycling imposed over daily high to low movement. Humidity often cycles with temperature.