Preventing diseases
with UV treatment of ventilated air
Denmark’s most extensive ventilation system with UV treatment on the air intake
Viruses and bacteria pose a significant threat to modern agriculture, as they create considerable costs that can have disastrous consequences for the well-being of the animals and the producers' finances. Therefore, the eradication of bacteria and viruses is a high-priority area for farmers all over the world, where all possible hygiene measures are taken to protect the herds against disease.
The purpose of SKOV's cooperation agreement with the company Naturlig Desinfektion and the pig breeding farm, Molsgaard, is to prevent diseases. Molsgaard Svineavl is owned by the father, Jørgen Gade Nielsen, and the son, Allan Gade Nielsen. Together with SKOV and Naturlig Desinfektion, Molsgaard Svineavl is now running Denmark's most extensive UV treatment system for ventilated air, which has been put into operation to minimize the risk of airborne infection by viruses and bacteria.
Eradication of bacteria and viruses using nature's medication
The air is an infection carrier for many viruses and bacteria. Finding appropriate solutions that can protect against airborne diseases, such as PRRS and influenza, is thus of great interest. The UV light is increasingly used as a means of preventing diseases in the area of agriculture, and the company Naturlig Desinfektion is in no doubt as to why this is so: "UV radiation is an effective and well-documented way of disinfecting water, air, and surfaces without adding or creating toxic effects. When the UV rays penetrate the microorganisms and seep into the cell, the DNA is destroyed, preventing the cell's ability to reproduce and multiply into an infection. UV treatment is, therefore, a natural principle that reduces the risk of infection in the livestock house without the use of chemicals," says Pernille Snitkjær, CEO, Naturlig Desinfektion.
SKOV ventilation with the installation of UV light sources
The installation involved all SKOV ventilation on the farm being converted into a controlled positive-pressure system to avoid the unwanted intake of infected air. The air intake on the farm is carried out through 53 roof units, all equipped with UV light sources, whereas traditional SKOV exhaust units handle the air outlet. Therefore, the system at Molsgaard is an example of the fact that it does not require a complete conversion to optimize security measures. Adding a solution that is built around the pre-existing setup minimizes both costs and time-consuming total renovations.
Jørgen Gade Nielsen and Allan Gade Nielsen have a breeding herd of 1,100 sows. It has, therefore, been crucial for them to try and reduce the risk of infection in their herd. Although the costs of the new setup increase, pig farmer Jørgen Gade Nielsen is optimistic about the new system. "I expect operating costs to increase by approx DKK 200,000 for electricity and approx DKK 200,000 for the replacement of UV lights, but these are costs that I expect and which I believe are eventually offset by lower vaccination costs," says pig farmer Jørgen Gade Nielsen.