Practical tips for the winter season

Here are some practical tips:

• ❄️ Climate control, maximum ventilation: In winter, it is not necessary to reach 100% maximum ventilation. Limiting the maximum is therefore recommended. For a fan / duct with a measuring vane and an automatic diaphragm, this can be done by reducing the % of maximum ventilation. For fans with a manually operated diaphragm, this is done using the diaphragm (maximum ventilation then set to 100%).

• 🌡️ Climate control, barn temperature: On cold days, regularly check the lowest barn temperature (many climate controllers show a temperature history). If the barn temperature is often lower than the setpoint, this may indicate that the minimum ventilation is too high.

• 💨 Air inlet: In winter, the air inlet must be restricted. Maximum air inlet is not necessary, and too large an inlet prevents sufficient negative pressure from building up. Insufficient negative pressure means too much wind influence. Example: For a finishing pig section with 200 places, only 1 m² of air inlet is needed in winter.

• 🔥 Farrowing house, floor heating: Check the temperature of the heated lying stones. Too low a temperature is harmful for newborn piglets and can, for example, trigger diarrhea.

• 🐷 Weaned piglets, finishing pigs: In winter, ensure the correct temperature when placing weaned piglets or finishing pigs (preheat the barn). The barn must also be dry before the pigs enter.

• 🥣 Feeding schedule for pregnant sows: When barn temperature drops, nutrient requirements increase. For pregnant sows: feed an extra 100 g/sow/day per °C when barn temperature is below 18 °C.