For pig farmers, barn buildings are more than a storage facility for their animals: they are the crucial environment in which the health and well-being of the pigs must be monitored and nurtured at all times. A good view of such factors as temperature, air quality and humidity is essential in this regard to ensure that livestock are safe and comfortable. After all, defects in the barn ventilation system can promote heat stress and suffocation..
A monitoring system that operates independently of the barn's climate control system can provide relief. Using advanced sensor technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, farmers can be easily notified when something is threatening to go wrong and can intervene smoothly in the event of unforeseen circumstances..
Heat and choking hazards in pig barns
If something goes wrong with the barn ventilation system on a hot day, the consequences can be disastrous. After all, heat stress and choking hazards lurk and with it a major loss in the farmer's herd. Reduced appetite in pigs, growth retardation and even mortality can be the result of faulty ventilation and the consequences that entails. Asphyxiation also becomes a real problem when insufficient fresh air can be brought into the barns. So those who want to safeguard their livestock had better keep an eye on air supply and quality.
What is heat stress?
Unlike humans, pigs cannot sweat. In heat, therefore, they must rely on looking for cool spots. In great heat, animals will also start breathing faster in an attempt to cool down further. That they rely so heavily on the opportunities in their environment makes pigs very susceptible to hot temperatures. When they cannot cool down sufficiently and their normal physiological functions are therefore (severely) disturbed, we speak of heat stress.
The effects of heat stress
That heat stress has serious consequences for pigs. Not only will they eat less and thus lose weight, their growth will be stunted and in some cases heat stress can even lead to death. In addition, animals' health is at stake due to respiratory problems, dehydration, reduced fertility and increased risk of infections.
In other words, preventing heat stress is critical to watch over livestock welfare and health. Adequate ventilation, a supply of shaded areas and cooling options such as water misting can help. Furthermore, it is essential to monitor stall temperatures to proactively intervene if there is a danger of overheating animals. This can easily be done thanks to Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
IoT monitoring for pig barns
The climate control system present in most barns is not infallible. Therefore, it pays to invest in a monitoring system that works independently of it. Through IoT technologies, pig farmers can consult the desired parameters at any time of the day or have alarms sent out in case of risky values. There are several easily combinable options for this. Thus, farmers can intervene in time in case of danger of overheating or suffocation.
Heat measurement with temperature sensors
One of the most important elements of swine pen monitoring is measuring temperature. In this process, temperature sensors are placed at strategic locations in the barn to get an accurate picture of the ambient temperature. In real-time, the sensors collect data and transmit it to a central system in which all the data come together. These are easily consulted by the pig farmer, who consequently quickly notices if there is any danger and can also take timely measures.
Preventing choking hazards with CO2 sensors
In addition to heat stress, suffocation is also a risk that can have catastrophic consequences. The pigs' breathing produces moisture, heat and CO2 anyway. When the concentration of CO2 becomes too high in the barns, suffocation can result. Ideally, farmers should equip their barns with a CO2 sensor that also measures temperature and humidity. That way, a good picture of the air quality in the barns is created.
Benefits of monitoring in swine barns
Implementing a monitoring system in swine barns offers numerous benefits for pig farmers:
- Real-time insights: Sensors continuously collect data on environmental conditions in the barns, including temperature, humidity and CO2 levels. That data is analyzed and displayed on a clear dashboard. This gives pig farmers instant insight into the current situation with their livestock.
- Early warnings: Monitoring enables early detection of impending problems such as heat stress or elevated CO2 levels. When certain threshold values are exceeded, alerts are sent out automatically. Intervening quickly with appropriate measures thus prevents overly large problems.
- Efficient decision-making: Based on the data collected, pig farmers can make informed decisions to improve the welfare of their animals. This can have positive effects in multiple areas. For example, optimizing the ventilation system not only improves the comfort and health of the pigs, but also increases energy efficiency and thus reduces energy costs.
- Water monitoring: In addition to air quality and temperature, monitoring is also suitable for analyzing water consumption in pig barns. Any leaks are therefore quickly detected and proactive livestock producers can identify and address problems.
How can Calculus help you?
At Calculus, we provide the necessary measurement solutions, connectivity and dashboards that allow your barn monitoring to function independently of the existing climate control system. We assist you in mapping various aspects, including:
- Energy consumption of your barns: We provide you with insight into the energy consumption of your barns. This includes the measurement of both the energy you generate yourself (e.g. with solar panels) and the energy you draw from the energy grid. That way, you can see exactly how much energy you are consuming and generating at any given time. Polluted solar panels? Data indicating a lower energy yield will quickly make that clear and allow you to intervene. We also help you monitor the power supply so that you are always aware of any power outages. These are often at the root of ventilation system failures.
- Measurements of temperature, humidity and light intensity (lux): Our fully autonomous solution uses a small device in which all the sensors are already integrated. You receive that module from us and just need to attach it to the wall or place it with magnetic pads. No wiring is needed: the system works completely self-sufficiently on batteries and can operate autonomously for five years.
- Water consumption and water leakage: Because your animals must have constant access to sufficient clean water, your water consumption may be high. Moreover, the amount of groundwater you are allowed to use is limited. With our systems, we are happy to help you monitor water consumption and detect any leaks. This way, your animals have the water supply they need and not a drop is lost.
As a pig farmer, how will you be informed in a timely manner?
When problems arise, it is of the utmost importance that you be informed quickly and accurately. Therefore, we offer several options to inform you in a timely manner. First, you can access your dashboard yourself at any time of the day, on which all measured data can be consulted. You can also check the collected data via our app. In addition, you can activate notifications and alarms according to your own preferences. You will not only receive these by e-mail or SMS, but you can even be called if you wish. So you never miss important information.
In addition, we use a waterfall principle for alarms. This involves initially notifying one or more primary contact persons. If there is no timely response from them, then the next persons in line are notified. The number of people who can receive an alarm notification is unlimited, as we understand that your livestock is dear to you and in some cases you have to rely on many people to keep everything on track.
What about installation?
The actual installation of metering solutions is quite easy. To install energy monitoring, we do recommend using a licensed installer. If you already have a trusted home installer, we can work with him or her and explain how the installation works. If you prefer our help in finding an installer, we are happy to help you with that.
For monitoring temperature, humidity, CO2 and light intensity (lux), we offer a fully autonomous solution. You can simply place it against the wall or attach it using magnetic pads. The latter is particularly useful for cleaning stalls.
When installing water monitoring systems, our experts are there to advise you. After all, because there are different types of water meters, it is not always easy to immediately determine which measurement solution is best suited to support your specific situation. In the selection and installation of such solutions, we are happy to help you.
Is my project even suitable?
Actually, there is only one condition for getting started with our measurement solutions: a mobile network must be available at the location where you want to monitor. It is advisable to check that beforehand (for example, with your phone). If a 4G connection is available, we can start immediately. But even in the absence of a mobile network, you need not worry.
There are often several possibilities to still obtain the necessary data without a pre-existing 4G connection. In that case, we look at whether it is best to set up our own network or to use the fixed network that you may already have. We always do this in consultation with you.
What if the system breaks down or fails?
Technical defects can never be ruled out. This applies not only to your ventilation system, but also to our own systems. Although we have never had to deal with major problems in the past, at Calculus we recognize the risks. That's why we value redundancy: each component in our systems functions independently of the others. For example, does the temperature sector fail? Then you will still receive the rest of the data accurately. This is how we create maximum reliability for our solutions. Moreover, with a no-data alarm, you are immediately notified of the absence of new data, so you can investigate what is going on and contact us quickly in case of persistent difficulties.
Monitoring in swine pens in a nutshell
Thanks to Calculus' monitoring systems, livestock farmers can reliably monitor various parameters in their barns and also enable alarms according to their preferences and needs. Thereby, a system of independent measurement solutions with easy placement provides real-time data that can be consulted in a clear dashboard with accompanying app. In this way, pig farmers are promptly informed of risk factors in the climate control of the barns and heat stress and suffocation can be prevented. As a farmer, you can thus confidently rely on our IoT solutions.
