28 Pork News & Views Pork News & Views Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Better Pork | December 2024 and money in the future. Hire qualified specialists when required, and have the work area ready for their arrival. What to Look For and How Often Penning, gates, feeders and water nipples can clog, malfunction or be damaged by the pigs overnight, and should be checked daily. Weeds can grow up around the perimeter of the facility quickly in the spring, while snow can block driveways to feed bins and shipping doors – these items should be checked at least weekly. Dust and dirt build-up on air inlets, exhaust fans, heating appliances and electrical equipment may accumulate over a period of weeks or months, while adjustments to your heating and ventilation controllers may only be required once or twice a year. Though the infrastructure works as a complete system, an inspection of each individual element is a practical approach for a maintenance program. Identify each element and create inspection checklists. The following list includes the basics found in most swine facilities: Penning, Feeders, Water Systems, Augers, Feed Storage: Keep these items clean and serviceable. Damaged penning can injure animals or allow unwanted mixing of groups. Protect water systems from freezing. Protect feed sto- res from moisture and rodents; Ventilation and Heating Systems: Keep all systems clean to minimize deterioration and maximize efficiency. Have a specialist periodically service heaters and fans, and test and adjust inlets, fans, sensors and controllers to maximize efficiency of the equipment and quality of the indoor environ- ment; Insulation, Vapour Barriers and Cladding: Insulation restricts heat flow out of the barn (during winter) and into the barn (during summer) and prevents condensation. Vapour barriers keep moisture from damaging insulation and the structure. Cladding protects both of these items from birds, rodents and physical damage. Make repairs as soon as possible to reduce long term damage and reduce energy use; Doors and Windows can work against heating and ventilation systems due to unwanted air infiltration. Inspect weather stripping and door hardware regularly. If replacing older doors, upgrade to an insulated model to reduce heat transfer to the outdoors; Electrical Systems: Failure of electrical systems is one of the major causes of barn fires. Inspect for rodent damage, corrosion, dust and dirt build up regularly to prevent overheating or short circuits. Some insurance companies offer thermographic inspections (during operation/ peak load) to identify hot spots. Have a qualified electrician make any repairs; Structural Systems: This is what holds everything up, and includes foundations, slatted or solid floors, concrete sandwich walls, stud or post and beam walls, and roof trusses and clad- ding. The enemies of the struc- ture are moisture, manure and physical damage. Investigate wood elements for rot, chewing or wear from machinery. Check steel items for signs of corrosion from moisture or manure gases. Manure acids and gases can cause concrete to deteriorate and possibly crack or flake off. Any deterioration of structural systems should be considered a safety issue. Have a professio- nal engineer complete an inspec- tion and provide you with recommendations for repair strategies; Outdoors: Ensure that downs- pouts and the ground surroun- ding your facility slope away from all buildings to limit water infiltration. Maintain all driveways to feed bins and loading doors. Keep snow plowed to ensure access for the fire department. Ensure weeds and debris are removed from the perimeter of buildings. Repair any cracks or gaps in the building to protect against rodents and have a pest control program. This fan needs cleaning! Fan cleanliness can reduce air output by 30% or more.
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