Cleaner Air for Pigs: Testing Ionizers in Farrowing Rooms

In the world of pig farming, air quality is a big deal. It's not just about keeping the pigs healthy; it's also about protecting the humans who work there. Tiny particles floating in the air, smaller than 10 micrometers, can cause big problems. These particles, known as particulate matter (PM), can lead to respiratory issues for both pigs and people. Negative ionizers have been used in homes and other buildings to make the air cleaner. They've even been tested in some farm settings. But what about in pig farrowing rooms? That's where baby pigs are born and raised. This study wanted to see if negative ionizers could make a difference in these rooms. Six farrowing rooms, each with 60 sows, were set up with 30 negative ionizers. Some rooms had the ionizers turned on (L-ON), and some had them turned off (L-OFF). Measurements of tiny particles (PM2. 5 and PM10), gases like ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), temperature, and humidity were taken twice a week at two heights: pig level and human level. Pig performance metrics, like the number of piglets born and how many survived, were also tracked. The results? No big differences in PM2. 5 or PM10 levels were found between the rooms with ionizers on and off. But, in 60% of the rooms with ionizers on, there was a slower buildup of these particles. One room with ionizers on showed a slower buildup of ammonia, and 60% of the rooms with ionizers on had a slower buildup of hydrogen sulfide. However, pig performance metrics remained unchanged. So, did the ionizers work? Maybe. The study showed some signs of improved air quality, but it's not clear-cut. More research is needed to really understand if these ionizers are a game-changer for pig farrowing rooms.