Farmex: Seasonal tip – check ventilation now

The typical autumn weather that we are now experiencing results in mild days and chilly nights and this can bring problems for indoor pigs. Large swings between daytime and night-time temperatures can trigger vices, such as tail-biting, particularly in finishing houses, warns Hugh Crabtree, managing director of ventilation specialists, Farmex.

To help overcome such challenges, his company has developed a feature called ‘Rate Limit’ for the widely used Dicam control systems. When the outside temperature during the day has been fairly high – more than 15 degrees C – this automatically slows down the rate at which room temperature falls back to the set temperature overnight. This has the effect of reducing the day/night temperature variation.

Because of the welfare – as well as economic – implications of vices he advises pig farmers to get their ventilation checked to make sure it is working properly whatever system they are using.