Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Research activities in the area of swine nutrition and management at UK are now hampered by an aging ventilation system that cannot be restored to proper functionality. The loss of ventilation capabilities hinders proper animal wellbeing during periods of the year, thus reducing the capacity to contribute to the research related to providing an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food for human nutritional demand. It also compromises the plans for the expanded food products facilities which will develop new uses and new products for pork at the research farm where the swine research unit is located. Upgrading the ventilation system to a system that the industry-standard will allow the continuance of this unique herd, which is free of diseases that are routinely vaccinated for in every other herd in the country. The performance of these pigs is exceptional and allows research to be conducted that is strictly related to the biology of the pig without the interaction with disease. The use of industry-standard equipment with industry-standard installation will make long-term upkeep and maintenance easy and affordable. The end result of this activity will be a functional ventilation system that is automatically controlled and is constructed with the minimal amount of cost, thus enabling the continued research output of an extremely productive swine research group.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this renovation project activity will be a functional ventilation system that is automatically controlled that mimics current industry systems and is constructed with the minimal amount of cost. It will allow the continuance of the excellent productivity of the swine research group at UK and it will seamlessly integrate with plans for further development of facilities at the C. Oran Little Research Farm that incorporate aspects of consumer product development and workfornce development related to animal agriculture. The restored ventilation capabilites will enhance industry support of research projects and will facilitate continuance of the swine herd that has unique health aspects.
Project Methods
A review of the swine unit and the ventilation issue has already been conducted by the former chair of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences and former swine extension specialist who had previously advised many producers in Kentucky about ventilation issues, as well as by another former swine extension specialist in Kentucky who went to industry and worked as a nutrition and management consultant for a major swine feed company and who also advised swine producers nationally about ventilation issues. A third individual from the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) Department was consulted about aspects of what was recommended by the two swine extension personnel. All recommended reversing the air flow by pulling the air from the attic and exhausting it through the end walls. The BAE specialist was especially requested to comment on the needs/changes within the attic of the rooms relative to air flow and air temperature. Following these assessments, the leading swine equipment supplier in the U.S., Hog Slats Inc., was contacted for them to visit the swine unit for comments. Their representative concurred about reversing the airflow and they supplied the quote for equipment that is a part of this project. They also are involved in selecting a construction group familiar with swine units in general and with their equipment specifically. That construction group will be visiting the swine unit in September 2023. The installation of the fans and the linking of those fans to an automatic controller that is located in the central alleyway of each building is the first phase of the project. The second phase of the project involves work in the attic of each room that will allow the appropriate air flow of tempered air. This involves the construction of plenums and their insulation. The BAE specialist will be involved in designing and verifying appropriate construction and installation of the plenums. The construction and installation will be conducted by UK personnel within the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.