Livestock barn ventilation
Beef cattle
In order to create an ideal barn climate all year round, ventilation is required. This is achieved by combining natural ventilation and fans.
Livestock barn ventilation - advantages at a glance
- Suppress heat stress
- Dry air means lower risk of infection
- Natural ventilation without draughts
- Cross or longitudinal ventilation
- Different systems
- Ventilation according to age groups
- Automatically adjustable
Suppress heat stress
Ventilating a livestock barn has a direct positive influence on animal welfare. In summer, cows can already experience heat stress from 20°C. Sufficient air circulation helps to adress this problem and contributes to a better grow curve.
Ventilating a livestock barn will be different in winter than in summer. When it is warm, the adjustable system is fully open, so that a maximum air intake is guaranteed. This ventilation is automatically boosted by fans from 20°C, or when there is no wind.
At winter temperatures, the sails are almost completely ready. At the top, the air inlet is maintained, without direct draught on the livestock. The fans are then off.
Dry air means lower risk of infection
In order to prevent the spread of disease, the pursuit of an optimal barn climate is of great importance. Moreover, the number of cows per barn has strongly increased in recent years, which is accompanied by increased disease pressure.
Ventilation makes the barn drier and makes it more difficult for germs to survive. Ventilation also ensures optimum air exchange in young stock barns.
Natural ventilation without draughts
In case of natural ventilation, it is important that there is ventilation without draughts caused by too fast airflows.
With natural ventilation, the air enters the barn as high as possible through the top, in order to achieve a nice flow in the barn without draughts. In this way a natural cross ventilation is created: the fresh air enters via open sails on one side, and is discharged via the opposite side.
Only from 20°C onwards will the fans increase the natural ventilation and provide additional cooling.
Cross or longitudinal ventilation
Depending on the type of construction and the situation, the fans can reinforce the natural cross ventilation, or they are chosen to be placed in function of longitudinal ventilation.
We'll come and see the situation.
Ventilation according to age groups - Young/large livestock
The needs of the different animals must be taken into account when ventilating a livestock barn. Young livestock need less ventilation compared to large livestock.
The sails of the adjustable systems in young livestock barns are composed differently than in large livestock barns. At the place in the barn where young livestock are housed, the density of the sails of the adjustable system will be different from that of the adult cows. The climate computer is then set differently for each age group.
Fans are also placed and set according to the needs of the respective age category.
Different systems
Ventilating a livestock barn is done by combining different systems:
- Adjustable sails in a livestock barn
- Fixed sails in a livestock barn
- Doors in a livestock barn
- Fans in a livestock barn
Our representative will work with you to find out which combination of systems is the best option in your situation.
Automatically controllable - Climate computer
A climate computer ensures that the ventilation of a meat cattle barn takes place automatically. The tarpaulins and fans are controlled with it.
The climate computer takes into account:
- Wind speed
- Wind direction
- Inner temperature
- Outdoor temperature
- Air humidity
- Rain
- Light level
Benefits of a climate computer at a glance:
- Immediately respond to weather changes
- Never chasing after the facts
- 24h/24h regulated
- All sails are arranged, so they don't work against each other
- Adaptable if required
- Fans are controlled ifv indoor temperature
- Fogging can be controlled in extreme heat
- Nozzles on the barn can be controlled in extreme heat.
- Heating in certain rooms can be controlled in case of extreme cold.
- Lighting can be controlled
Read more about this on our blog 'climate computer'.