Confining animals to a barn, limited area or coop creates air-quality challenges for the animals and the people who care for them. The discussion of occupational exposures limits for humans versus animals is valid and applicable to most of these settings.
This review summarizes the impact of air quality on swine production and discusses the main factors related to air quality to benefit pigs’ health and productivity. Poor indoor air quality has been associated with immune stress, respiratory diseases and decreased pig productivity.
Source: National Hog Farmer, October 3, 2019. Link.
Poor indoor air quality can affect the health, productivity and welfare of pigs, besides being a health risk to farmworkers.
INSIGHTS: The factors and key points to consider for air quality improvement in confined swine settings also provide considerations for kennels, backyard poultry coops, horse stables, dairies, even feedlots. Understanding how these factors influence air quality provides an opportunity to improve production and stewardship for animals in our care.