Ventilation quality is the single most modifiable environmental factor in pig respiratory health. Understanding ventilation principles helps farmers reduce PRDC incidence.
Poor ventilation is both a welfare and health problem — high ammonia causes respiratory irritation and pain, while inadequate air changes allow pathogen accumulation that triggers PRDC outbreaks. Pigs cannot signal ventilation inadequacy through changed behaviour until disease is already established. Regular ammonia and CO2 monitoring using inexpensive meters provides objective data to guide ventilation management. Smoke testing visualises air movement and identifies dead spots, draughts and recirculation zones that cause local air quality problems. Investment in variable speed fan control systems provides automatic regulation that maintains welfare standards across all weather conditions.