In relative terms, Summer and Winter ventilation of calf barns is easy – supply the necessary adequate air exchanges for the weather, and with minor adjustments for the odd days, ventilation takes care of itself. The “Shoulder Seasons” – or Spring and Fall, offer more challenges because of temperature fluxuations, overnight conditions varying with daytime, and added challenge of rain/snow and humidity. When pairing these rapidly changing weather situations with the consistency needed for calf barns, we often see more respiratory distress in the Shoulder Seasons than in other months.
The usage of Positive Pressure Tubes has increased in recent years, and the dairy industry has fine-tuned the design of these tubes for different seasons. Some calf barns that utilize good natural ventilation have found that adding a tube for all seasons that offers basic air exchange at calf level is all they need to keep respiratory distress at bay during the shoulder seasons. Other farms, however, have realized that they have “dead spots” in their barns due to wind shadows, and obstructions inside or outside the barn, that minimize airflow
at calf level. Farms in this category may benefit from a tube designed for higher air exchanges for the months that require it. Many farms have also opted to do multiple tubes, utilizing the one that is designed for that particular season (ie, all season tube in the winter or a higher air exchange tube for the summer and warmer shoulder seasons).
Not sure if your barn has dead spots, or just wish you heard less coughing in your calf barn during the shoulder seasons? We’ve got tools to help assess calf health and facility air flow and will gladly come out to help determine if a positive pressure tube might be the best direction for you to take.
To learn more about positive pressure tubes, the University of Wisconsin Dairyland Initiative has a great article on the history, usage and design https://thedairylandinitiative.vetmed.wisc.edu/home/housing-module/replacement-housing/calf-barn-ventilation/ .