Forced air ventilation improves calf health
LOCATED in Bradfordon-Avon, Cats Hill Farm accommodates around 300 calves in its beef unit.
With pneumonia and heat stress presenting major risks to animal welfare and yield, bespoke ventilation solution from specialist supplier, Hydor, was implemented to help reduce these issues.
Joanne Pile, the owner and a contract calf rearer, said: “Despite the unit being purpose built, it become apparent that natural ventilation here wasn’t circulating enough fresh air for the young calves. My livestock were suffering from an increased number of pneumonia cases than would expected.
“I had higher medicine costs impacting on my running costs.”
Heat stress was another issue that Joanne needed to contend with. Normally, older cows produce enough body heat around each other to create a ‘stack effect’ where the air rises and cold, fresh air is drawn in through the vents alongside the side of the roof in the unit. However, as calves do not produce body heat to the same extent.
Consulting her vet, Ben Barber, from Synergy Farm Health, he recommended a positive pressure tube ventilation (PPTV) system. It was designed using University of WisconsinMadison’s farm ventilation research.
Ventilation specialists, Hydor installed the system. Robin Hibberd, its technical sales engineer, explained: “Our PPTV system distributes a constant supply of fresh air within the building to remove stagnant air and lingering pathogens, while maintaining consistent temperatures in the building. This way, damp and humid air conditions are avoided to prevent the likelihood of pneumonia and heat stress.”
Ben enlisted the expertise of Paul Bartholomew, who works for Bart Agri – a Hydor product distributor.
The system provides airflow down the entire length of the unit above the calves’ height to avoid the herd being subject to chill.
“When it came to installing the systems, it was a pretty straightforward process that I was able to carry out myself with a bit of help,” said Joanne.
“We cut a hole in the side of the building to mount the fan unit and from here attached the tube to the unit, which is hung by wires from the roof of the building.
“Operation is just as easy too. All I need to do is switch the fan on and off when required. An added benefit is that the system is fairly quiet when its running.
“As well as this, the system is maintenance-free.”
Since installing the two PPTV units three years ago, Joanne has seen a vast improvement in the welfare of her cattle and is now looking to procure three more systems directly through Hydor for her other buildings.