Pigs & Poultry
Reducing ammonia levels in pig buildings High levels of ammonia in pig sheds will lead to an increase in respiratory problems, decreased feed intake and therefore reduced growth rates – as well as impacting staff health and welfare. We spoke to Galebreaker sales manager Will Johnson about measures to improve air quality. Ammonia has been high on the government’s agenda, with a target to reduce emissions by 16% by 2030 as part of the Clean Air Strategy. UK agriculture is reported to be responsible for 88% of emissions, with livestock housing being the most significant source (27%). Aside from the likelihood of increasing regulation, high levels of ammonia in housing also have significant ramifications for pig welfare and staff health. “When we talk about high levels of ammonia what we’re actually talking about is air quality. Poor air quality in pigs and humans can lead to exacerbated respiratory issues, and any respiratory issues in pigs will impact feed intake and therefore daily growth rates. So you’ll have an unhappy pig that’s not eating enough, growing quickly enough and won’t finish to its best ability,” Mr Johnson explains.
Utilising natural ventilation to ensure good airflow without draughts is a key part of reducing ammonia levels in pig buildings, he adds. “Maintaining good air quality by utilising natural ventilation, has been proven to provide above and beyond industry standard living conditions for higher welfare pigs. A happy, healthy pig will grow quickly, finish well and be a much more productive animal for the farmer.”
A modern side curtain system A side curtain system such as Galebreaker’s VVS (variable ventilation system) helps to provide optimum living conditions for health and welfare, minimising the impact of seasonal temperature changes on the growth and finishing stages. VVS is fitted to either side of the shed with a weather control station
to control it. In fully automatic mode the curtain reacts to pre-set wind direction, wind speed, internal and external temperatures and rain to make sure the correct environment within the shed is achieved at all times, explains Mr Johnson. “The whole premise behind the Galebreaker brand is really to provide optimal conditions within buildings using the best of natural ventilation,” he continues. “When we talk about how to reduce the impact of high ammonia levels within a pig building, we’re looking to utilise natural ventilation to flush the building to provide clean fresh air at all times.”
Adaptable systems The latest Galebreaker iSeries controllers – which allow conditions within buildings to be monitored and tweaked remotely through a smartphone or tablet – can accept
signals from ammonia sensors. This means that should a legal limit be introduced for ammonia or CO2 levels in buildings, this could be written into the algorithm for the curtain operation. If a critical level is reached, the curtains will drop to flush the building with clean fresh air. The system can also interact with fans, doors, lighting and VentTubes, working them into the operation of the curtains, Mr Johnson explains: “Our systems are relatively adaptable to individual conditions. We write the algorithms to suit the site in terms of wind direction and what the farmer wants to achieve.” The customisable nature of the system is important as there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for farms looking to reduce ammonia levels and provide optimal air quality in their buildings, Mr Johnson notes. The iSeries controllers are highly customisable depending on what the farm is looking for, and the modular network is installed via a series of simple wired connections, making it easy to change or add systems to the network. Going forward it can continue to adapt to different conditions or age of pigs in the buildings at different times. Mr Johnson adds: “We reinvest a significant proportion of our turnover into R&D and it’s very important to us that what we sell to our customers is good for now and good for the future. We keep an eye on legislation and market trends and work very hard to make sure what we sell is customisable and upgradable for the future.” With ammonia currently prevalent in the news, we can assume that yet further legislation could be coming. Mr Johnson adds: “Farmers and processors will all be keeping an eye on future legislation; anything we can do to help people prepare for any incoming air quality regulations is 100% what Galebreaker is going to do.” Speak to your vet to assess air flow or quality in your buildings, or contact Galebreaker to start discussing solutions. FG
New spreader head option for narrow passages Spread-a-Bale is introducing the Side Throw (ST) at LAMMA 2022 – a new spreader head option that allows livestock farmers with narrow doorways and passages to make further reductions in straw spreading time, labour and fuel. And equally important, to make straw savings of 30–50%. Only one materials handler is required to operate. It features a single vertical rotor which discharges straw through a 40cm wide side aperture. Straw is delivered in a focused 1m-wide linear
spread pattern and thrown up to 6m, with minimal dust generation. It can be fitted to any of Spreada-Bale’s M range, Mini, Midi and Maxi, and is available on front end mounted models for attachment to 1.75t or greater loader lift capacity. Spread-a-Bale’s Michael Hughes explains: “The new ST spreader head will be of interest to farmers with a minimum 2m-wide doorways and passageways, particularly for pig producers with yards and those with outdoor arcs requiring focused
discharge for a more precise bedding. The ST is also suited to turkey and duck rearing systems.” It can discharge one rectangular bale within 60 seconds, improving efficiency of systems, labour and diesel usage, Mr Hughes adds. Vertical rotor height varies according to Spreada-Bale model: the ST Mini and Midi
measures 3ft and the ST Maxi, 4ft. For further information see Spread-a-Bale’s dealer network (www.straw-spreading-machines. com), contact Mr Hughes directly or visit LAMMA stand 20.390. FG
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