Air quality, thermal environment and performance of swines raised in farrowing with different dimensions

The phase of swine nursery is considered a critical one, in which the animal is exposed to environmental conditions of the premises on which it is located, without the matrix protection and inserted into a social collective and unknown environment. This phase requires a more heated thermal environment and, because of that, on winter time the shelters are kept more closed, which can cause damage in terms of renewing the air. This work has the objective of evaluating two different sizes of farrowing on winter time, considering thermal environment, air quality and performance of animals located in these facilities. We used two different sizes (I and II), both without any kind of heating. Were measured instantaneous concentrations of NH3 (ppm), CO (ppm) and CO2 (ppm). Data relating to thermal comfort environment (temperature and humidity) were collected continuously. It was concluded that the concentration of CO2 and NH3 gases, measured in both farrowing, did not reach levels that could harm the health of animals; with no measurable concentration of carbon monoxide gas in any of these, the thermal environment in the farrowing during the studied time was considered comfortable.