Dan L. Raap

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1988

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Agricultural Engineering

First Advisor

Donell P. Froehlich

Abstract

A comparison of drip cooling, zone cooling, and conventional ventilation was performed on lactating swine. Overall, the cooling systems did not significantly improve swine performance. The drip and zone systems highly significantly lowered sow respiration rates by 40 and 28 percent, respectively, when compared to the respiration rates of sows from a conventionally ventilated room. Older sows consumed ten percent more feed than younger sows. Older sows returned to estrus after weaning approximately two days sooner than younger sows. Based on swine performance of this two-year study, neither drip cooling or zone cooling systems should be installed in areas with climatic conditions similar to eastern South Dakota. The efforts of previous research at South Dakota State University were directed at investigating the effects of snout ventilation (using outside uncooled air) and snout cooling (using refrigerated air) on the performance of sows and litters. Snout cooling resulted in increased sow feed consumption by five percent and increased overall piglet weight gain during lactation by five percent with greater benefits occurring during periods of higher room temperatures. However, the snout cooling produced drafts on piglets which may have reduced gain of piglets to seven days of age. Respiration rates of the sows were highly significantly lowered by snout cooling and significantly lowered by snout ventilation. For the present research, a comparison has been made between drip cooling, snout cooling, and conventional ventilation under South Dakota summer climatic conditions. The objectives were: 1. Analyze the thermal relations and animal effects for snout and drip cooling during summer conditions for sows and litters. 2. Evaluate the cooling advantages and disadvantages systems by presenting based on installation, operation, and swine productivity.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Swine -- Housing

Swine -- Housing -- Air conditioning

Swine -- Housing -- Heating and ventilation

Swine -- Climatic factors

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

138

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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