Optical Dust Meters May Misestimate Dust Concentrations in Animal Barns

Oct 16, 2020

By Xufei Yang and Ryan Samuel et.al

Dust is a major air quality issue associated with livestock facilities. In an animal barn, dust particles can originate from feeds, feces, and beddings, and can reach a very high concentration when animals are active, ventilation is poor, and/or feeding systems are running. Dust also represents a potential safety and health risk factor for caretakers in barns. Dust particles at high concentrations, especially small particles, are harmful to the humans’ respiratory systems. Together with hazardous gases, dust exposure can cause chronic bronchitis, decreased lung functions, aggravated asthma, and other acute and chronic respiratory symptoms. Dust can also carry odorous chemicals and, thus, play a crucial role in transporting and magnifying odor downwind from animal facilities.

Click here to see more...

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.