2002 Annual Report
Research
Hot Climate Temperature and Moisture Variations in Tunnel and Naturally
Ventilated Pig Gestations Buildings
Larry Jacobson, Professor
Carlos Pijoan, Professor, CPS, College of Veterinary Medicine
Verlyn Johnson, Information Technology Professional
Funding Source
Not Funded
Objective
The objective of the research project is to determine temperature and
moisture variation in tunnel and naturally ventilated pig gestation facilities
in Sonora, Mexico.
Project Description
Hobo data loggers were installed in four large gestation barns in the
Sonora region of Mexico in January, 2002 to record dry-bulb and dew-point
temperatures. These barns are located in a hot and dry climate with daytime
temperatures approaching 40°C. The self contained Hobo units are located
inside the barns near the ends and in the center of the four 200+ meters
long buildings. Two of these buildings are tunnel-ventilated so that inlet
air is brought in at one end and exhausted at the other end allowing collection
of data showing temperature variation as air enters the barn and moves
through an evaporative cooling cell, and then is heated and finally exhausted
at the opposite end. The other two buildings are naturally ventilated,
having large sidewall openings and an open ridge. In addition to dry-bulb
temperatures, dew-point temperatures were also recorded at all locations
in the barn starting in January of 2002 and running throughout 2002.
Results
Results have shown some relatively large temperature variations (approximately 5°C) between the inlet and exhaust end of the tunnel ventilated barns. Temperatures were reduced in the evaporative cooled building from 5° to 10°C depending on the end of the barn measured. The naturally ventilated barn had little or no temperature distribution from one end to the other. Large diurnal temperature swings (over 10°C) occurred in the naturally ventilated barn since it tracked ambient conditions. Sow production data is being analyzed to see if this varied between tunnel and naturally ventilated buildings.