LONDON, Ohio -- Ohio pork producers attending Ohio State University's Farm Science Review can learn more about managing the environment in their livestock facilities, while improving production efficiency and saving money.
Ohio State University Extension will show off its newly developed ventilation trailer, complete with all the bells and whistles found in typical mechanically ventilated livestock buildings that simulates various ventilation system scenarios. The idea is to aid producers in fine-tuning their swine building ventilation systems, as well as troubleshooting specific problems.
The ventilation trailer will be displayed in the Firebaugh Building, located on Friday Avenue during Farm Science Review, Sept. 16-18. The show will be held at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
"Most modern swine facilities depend on mechanical ventilation to make animals as comfortable as possible. The more comfortable the animals are, the faster they grow and the more productive they are," said Glen Arnold, an OSU Extension educator in Putnam County. "But it's easy to lose track of proper ventilation maintenance -- to warm the building more or to run the cooling fans longer than need be -- or to miss small problems with the system that could be costing a producer money."
Arnold will demonstrate the benefits of the ventilation trailer during Farm Science Review. He and his colleagues have been conducting training sessions this summer throughout the state.
Arnold said that producers could save on utility costs just by improving the efficiency of the system.
"Producers can often save $2,000 to $3,000 a year or more in propane expenses just by tweaking the system to make it more precise," said Arnold.
The ventilation trailer was made possible through donations by the Ohio Pork Producers Council, Farm Credit Services of Mid America, Ag Credit, Ohio State University's Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, Farmer Boy Ag Systems, and Curry Lumber.
Farm Science Review is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada, who come for three days to peruse 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors, and learn the latest in agricultural research, conservation, family and nutrition, and gardening and landscape.
Tickets are $8 at the gate or $5 in advance when purchased from county offices of OSU Extension or participating agribusinesses. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-17 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18. To learn more, log on to http://fsr.osu.edu.