Non-contact detection method of pregnant sows backfat thickness based on two-dimensional images.

Since sow backfat thickness (BFT) is highly correlated with its service life and reproductive effectiveness, dynamic monitoring of BFT is a critical component of large-scale sow farm productivity. Existing contact measures of sow BFT have their problems including, high measurement intensity and sows' stress reaction, low biological safety, and difficulty in meeting the requirements for multiple measurements. This article presents a two-dimensional (2D) image-based approach for determining the BFT of pregnant sows when combined with the backfat growth rate (BGR).

Prevention of particulate matter and airborne culturable bacteria transmission between double-tunnel ventilation layer hen houses.

Airborne bacteria and particulate matter (PM) emitted from animal houses may harm the environment and threaten on-farm and off-farm bio-security. Airborne transmission of PM and bacteria occurs more easily between double-tunnel ventilation layer hen houses with side-to-side arrangement due to the layout of inlet and outlet, and the accumulation of airborne contaminants in the intermediate region. This study practically applied shading nets for covering exhaust area and water disinfection for evaporative cooling system to prevent airborne transmission of PM and microbial aerosols between layer hen houses.

Optimization of a wet scrubber with electrolyzed water spray-Part I: Ammonia removal.

Electrolyzed water (EW) is an effective disinfectant with a wide range of pH. EW in acid range was proved to be an ammonia absorbent which make it valuable for wet scrubbers used in animal feeding operations (AFOs). This study aimed to optimize the design and operating parameters of a wet scrubber with EW spray for ammonia removal, based on the size distribution of droplets, the property of EW and the reduction efficiency of ammonia.

Optimization of a wet scrubber with electrolyzed water spray-Part II: Airborne culturable bacteria removal.

Airborne microorganisms, especially the pathogenic microorganisms, emitted from animal feeding operations (AFOs) may harm the environment and public health and threaten the biosecurity of the farm and surrounding environment. Electrolyzed water (EW), which was considered to be an environmentally friendly disinfectant, may be a potential spraying medium of wet scrubber for airborne microorganism emission reduction. A laboratory test was conducted to investigate the airborne bacteria (CB) removal efficiency of the wet scrubber by EW spray with different designs and operating parameters.