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Prepare Your Barn for Winter: A Profitable Approach to Maintenance and Efficiency

As winter approaches, ensuring your barn is ready for the season is critical for maintaining productivity, reducing energy costs, and protecting your infrastructure. Proper facility maintenance is not only easy but also highly profitable when part of a regular routine. Here’s a comprehensive guide to tackling winter preparation while integrating long-term maintenance strategies.


The Value of Routine Maintenance

Facility infrastructure is a major investment, and neglecting it can lead to costly issues like inefficient energy use, damaged equipment, and even barn fires. Regular upkeep supports optimal pig performance, creating a healthier, more productive environment.

Steps for Routine Maintenance:

  1. Daily Inspections: Check penning, feeders, water systems, and ventilation daily for damage or clogs.
  2. Repair Scheduling: Address safety issues immediately and prioritize other repairs based on urgency and complexity.
  3. Documentation: Maintain a checklist for all inspections and repairs, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
  4. Professional Support: Engage specialists like electricians or engineers for complex tasks to prevent further issues.
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Trending Video

Dr. Robert Stwalley: Cooling Pads in Swine Barns

Video: Dr. Robert Stwalley: Cooling Pads in Swine Barns


As summer temperatures heat up, it's crucial to find ways to manage the rising warmth in swine barns. In this special episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Robert Stwalley from Purdue University discusses how cooling floor pads can alleviate thermal stress in swine barns. He explores the impact of heat on sows, boar productivity, and piglet welfare and explains how microclimate engineering supports animal performance and barn efficiency. Learn practical solutions for barn design and temperature management. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Thermal stress drastically affects sows, and barns are just compromising between overheating the sow and underheating the piglets."