Resources for Ventilation of Livestock Housing

Ventilation System Information Available at Penn State

• Inlets for mechanical ventilation systems in animal housing. Wheeler, E. F. 1997. 8 pp.
• Selecting rated ventilation fans. Wheeler, E. F. 1996. 6pp.
• Selecting tunnel ventilation fans. Wheeler, E. F. 2002. Factsheet G-103. 4pp.
• Ventilating greenhouse barns – guidelines for livestock production. Wheeler, E. F. 2000. 4 pp.
• Self-adjusting baffle inlet to improve air distribution. McFarland, D. F. and Wheeler, E. F. 1998. 8 pp.
• Ventilation improvements for veal calf housing using 50-calf room example. Wheeler, E. F. and McFarland, D. F. 1998. 8 pp.
• Make your own ceiling inlet air speed monitors. Wheeler, E. F. and Martin, J. 1998. 3 pp.
• Ammonia monitoring in animal environments using simple instruments. Wheeler, E. F. 2009. 2 pp.
• Psychrometric chart use. Wheeler, E. F. 1996. 5 pp.
• Natural ventilation for dairy tie stall barns. Graves, R. E. 1995. Factsheet G-74. 4 pp.
• Ridge opening for naturally ventilated dairy shelters. McFarland, Graves, Tyson, Wilson. 2007. Idea plan DIP 811. 5 pp.
• Natural ventilation for freestall barns. Graves, R. E. and Brugger, M. 1995. Factsheet G-75. 6 pp.
• Horse Stable Ventilation. Wheeler, E. F. 2003, Publication UB039. 6 pp.
• Tunnel ventilation for tie stall dairy barns. Tyson, J.T., McFarland, D. F., and Graves, R. E., 2014. Factsheet G-78. 14 pp.

Additional Ventilation Resources

• Evaluating air quality in livestock housing environments. Eileen Fabian-Wheeler 2012. Hand-held instruments and their use in ventilation system performance evaluation. Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture, eXtension. 14 pp.
• Odor measurement for animal agriculture. Eileen Fabian-Wheeler, Mike Hile, David Schmidt. 2012. Background on sense of smell, odorants and techniques to properly monitor odor. Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture, eXtension. 20 pp.
• Environmental Control for Confinement Livestock Housing. AE-96. 1980. Dated but still useful online overview of mechanical ventilation systems for animal housing. Don Jones, William Friday and Sherwood DeForest. Purdue University.
• Mechanical Ventilation Design Worksheet for Swine Housing. 1999. Jay Harmon. Simple evaluations for selecting proper ventilation system components. Iowa State University. 12 pp.
• Natural Ventilation for Livestock Housing. AE-97. 1980. Basics of wind and buoyancy ventilation systems in an online summary. Don Jones, William Friday and Sherwood DeForest. Purdue University.
• Natural Ventilation for Freestall Dairy Barns. 442-763. 2009. Susan Wood Gay. Online overview of air exchange and control of open sided facilities with additional resources provided. Virginia Tech.
• Ventilation and Cooling Systems for Animal Housing. A3784-6. 2004. Scott Sanford. Brief introduction to box fans, high volume low speed fans, thermostats, sprinkler systems, and variable speed fans. University of Wisconsin. 3 pp.
• Ventilation for Warm Confinement Livestock Buildings. 1993. Joseph Zulovich. Brief introduction to fans, inlets and their controls with insulation and air flow requirements. Online and hardcopy. University of Missouri.
• Dairy Ventilation. Scott Sanford. Online resource for energy performance of mechanical ventilation and circulation fans with links to other resources. University of Wisconsin.
• Agricultural Ventilation Fans: Performance and Efficiencies. An online source of unbiased fan performance data for use by designers of agricultural ventilation systems. BioEnvironmental Systems Lab (BESS). University of Illinois.
• Livestock Housing Ventilation: Natural Ventilation Design and Management for Dairy Housing. 2006. Terry Mescher and Michael Veenhuizen. Good online summary. Ohio State University.
• Choosing Fans for Livestock and Poultry Ventilation. 2009. Jay Harmon and Hongwei Xin. Includes basic principles of fan quality, rating, performance and installation for typical and special applications. Iowa State University. 4 pp.
• Animal Housing-Elimination of Pit Ventilation Overview. 2014. Jay Harmon, Steven Hoff and Angela Rieck-Hinz. Short fact sheet outlines the case to reduce gas emissions while providing suitable air quality in the building. Iowa State University 2 pp.
• Energy Efficient Fans for Poultry Production. PM 2089H. 2010. Dana Petersen. Similar publication also available for swine production, PM 2089E. Iowa State University. 2 pp.
• Sizing Minimum Ventilation to Save Heating Energy in Swine Housing. PM 2089J. 2010. Jay Harmon, Mark Hanna and Dana Petersen. Proper sizing and use of variable speed fans can reduce wasteful energy use due to over-ventilation. Iowa State University. 2 pp.
• Supplemental Ventilation Systems for Modified, Open-front Swine Buildings. PM 1761. 1998. Dan Meyer and Jay Harmon. Figures and description on how to modify open-front buildings for better ventilation. Iowa State University. 4 pp.
• Troubleshooting Natural Ventilation Systems- Livestock Industry Facilities and Environment. PM 1659. 2006. Jay Harmon and Steven Hoff. Using just a few simple tools to better understand performance of ventilation. Iowa State University. 2 pp.
• Ventilation Systems for Sheep Barns - Sheep Management. PM 0989 15. 1988. Dan Morrical. Basics of natural and mechanical systems for alleviating poor ventilation and associated lamb health problems. Iowa State University. 2 pp.
• Mechanical Ventilation Systems for Livestock Housing. MWPS-32. 72 pp. 1990. Approx. $12. Applications and examples are provided for beef, dairy, calves, horses, poultry, rabbits, sheep, and swine. Source: MidWest Plan Service (MWPS)
• Natural Ventilating Systems for Livestock Housing. MWPS-33. 32 pp. 1989. Approx. $5. Provides guidelines for applying ventilation basics to achieve naturally ventilated farm and livestock buildings. Source: MidWest Plan Service (MWPS)
• Heating, Cooling and Tempering Air for Livestock Housing. MWPS-34. 48 pp. 1998. Approx. $7. Discusses the implications of combining ventilating systems with supplemental heating and cooling systems in farm and livestock buildings. Source: MidWest Plan Service (MWPS)
• Poultry Environment Problems A guide to solutions. Nottingham University Press. 88 pp. 2002. Approx. $32. Provides information on the needs and responses of poultry to aspects of the climatic environment. Source:  Annex Bookstore
• Natural Ventilation for Dairy Tie Stall Barns. DPC 6; NRAES 119. 7 pp. 1998. Approx. $8. Robert Graves, Robert Milne and John Porter. Detail of components for good ventilation performance. Source: Dairy Practices Council.

Reference Books Linking Agricultural Engineering and Animal Sciences

• Livestock Energetics and Thermal Environmental Management. James A. DeShazer, editor. ASABE Publisher. 2009 hardcover. 220 pp. Approx. $69.
• Agricultural Building and Structures. James A. Lindley and James H. Whitaker. ASABE Publisher. 1997 hardcover. 636 pp. Approx. $50.
• An Introduction to Environmental Biophysics. Gaylon S. Campbell. Heidelberg Science Library. 2013 softcover. 160 pp. Approx. $64.
• Environment Control for Animals and Plants. Louis D. Albright. ASAE Publisher. 1991 hardcover. 453 pp. Approx. $70.
• Principles of Animal Environment. Merle L. Esmay. AVI Publishing Company, Westport, Connecticut 1983 hardcover. 358 pp. Approx. $5-$50 used.
• Ventilation of Agricultural Structures. Mylo A. Hellickson and John N. Walker ASAE Publisher. 1983 hardcover. 372 pp. Approx. $60- $150 used

Some titles list specific sources. Otherwise, local bookstores may order titles for you or try these online book sellers:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble Booksellers
• Alibris

MidWest Plan Service (MWPS)
122 Davidson Hall
Iowa University
Ames IA 50011

This is not an exhaustive list of book suppliers. Mention of trademark, proprietary product, or vendor is for information purpose only. No endorsement is implied.