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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Genetics and Animal Breeding » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391199
Research Project: Identifying Genomic Solutions to Improve Efficiency of Swine Production

Location: Genetics and Animal Breeding

Title: Determining the heat and moisture production rate in group housed gestating sows with esf system

Author
item HONG, MINYOUNG - University Of Nebraska
item BROWN-BRANDL, TAMI - University Of Nebraska
item RAMIREZ, BRETT - University Of Nebraska
item HOFF, STEVEN - University Of Nebraska
item Rohrer, Gary
item SHARMA, RAJ - University Of Nebraska
item HAYES, MORGAN - University Of Kentucky
item HARMON, JAY - Iowa State University

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/2022
Publication Date: 7/20/2022
Citation: Hong, M., Brown-Brandl, T.M., Ramirez, B.C., Hoff, S.J., Rohrer, G.A., Sharma, R., Hayes, M.D., Harmon, J.D. 2022. Determining the heat and moisture production rate in group housed gestating sows with esf system [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. July 17-20,2022, Houston, Texas. Paper 2201038. pg. 64.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Usage of gestation stalls is being reduced or eliminated worldwide. The current heat and moisture production (HMP) standard for swine is based on data collected in the late 1950s. While some HMP studies have been completed in the last five to ten years, no HMP has been measured in a sow gestation facility equipped with electronic sow feeding systems (ESF). Therefore, the objective was to determine HMP values that reflect the characteristics of modern swine husbandry. Room-level HMP was collected in a one room, sow gestation facility equipped with an ESF system. The facility has seven 50-head pens (350 sows/gilts) with a single ESF feeder and 150 gestation stalls; the facility typically is populated with 430 animals, approximately 80% in group housing. The gilts/sows are bred in gestation stalls and remain in the stalls until approximately 28 days of gestation. Measurements of fan operation, dry-bulb temperature, dew point temperature, static pressure difference across the building shell, CO2 concentration, and animal body weights were collected from early July to September 2021. Using an RQ of 1.0, HMP were calculated for varying temperatures. Average sow body weight ranged from 163 to 180 kg for the gestation stalls and 169 to 178 kg for the group-housed pens. During the experiment, the measured room-level total heat production (THP) values ranged from 1.67 to 2.38 W/kg. From 20 to 24 °C, the mean THP was 2.19, 1.93, and 2.06 W/kg (day, night, average) and from 24 to 28 °C the mean THP was 2.14, 1.89, and 2.01 W/kg (day, night, average). Values for THP, latent heat production, and sensible heat production were 43%, 74%, and 11% greater than those listed in the ASABE standard EP270.5 (2017). Averaged THP reduction from day to night was 12.7% for 20 to 24 °C and 12.3% for 24 to 28 °C. The data from this system is vital to the sizing of ventilation fans for temperature control in modern gestation systems.