Modern Pigs Urgently Need Facilities with Modern Ventilation: Updating Swine Ventilation Standards/Guidelines

The overall goal of this study is to quantify the ventilation requirements for gestating sows housed in groups as well as update current ventilation standards as affected by animal and housing modifications over the past 50 to 60 years. Morgan Hayes will assist with all three objectives listed in the proposal. She expects to spend 30% of her efforts on research and 70% on extension. Objective 1: Determine the heat and moisture production rates of gestating sows in group pens. Hayes will assist with the analysis and dissemination of data collected at USMARC. She was engaged in the initial studies completed at MARC and is familiar with the study design and processing used to analyze the data. Objective 2: Determine the extent to which published swine ventilation standards reflect current heat and moisture production, and revise where needed. Hayes will assist the PD Ramirez with the formation of subcommittees to review and revise EP270.5 from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and Chapter 24 of the Applications Handbook from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). She will provide leadership and editorial support on these efforts as she is active on these committees. Objective 3: Provide pragmatic ventilation guidance to swine producers and the general public based on the revised, evidence-based standards. The team will modify the revised evidence-based standards with lay terminology, and publish Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) guidelines with practical, producer- and layperson-relevant strategies for evaluating existing and developing new ventilation systems in swine facilities. Hayes will engage in the modification of the MWPS publication but will focus her efforts on working with co-I Harmon to develop coordinating extension material including voice over slides and packets of materials that can be used for workshops. She will use staff support in the development of these materials