Investment cost and payback period of a modified prototype livestock trailer

The overall goal of the work conducted was to assess the performance of an improved prototype livestock trailer with ventilation, heating, misting and air filtration systems in maintaining a welfare-friendly and pathogen-free environment during transport. Road and disease-challenge tests showed that the trailer’s ancillary system was able to maintain acceptable environmental conditions in the animal compartment during transport. In addition, the air filtration system in the trailer was able to protect pigs from exposure to airborne transmissible diseases such as Influenza A virus. Cost analysis showed financial feasibility of an air-filtered trailer, with an estimated payback period of 2.8 years for an assumed price premium of $5 per pig transported in an air-filtered trailer.