In the agricultural industry, CO2 or carbon dioxide plays a vital role, since it affects the animal welfare and thus the performance of the production. This is why CO2 sensors are crucial instruments in livestock production.

CO2 sensors measure the level of carbon dioxide in the livestock house and combined with at farm controller it can help controlling the ventilation system automatically, ensuring optimum climate conditions for the animals.

Designed For Reliable CO2 Monitoring

In the agricultural industry, CO2 or carbon dioxide plays a vital role, since it affects the animal welfare and thus the performance of the production. This is why CO2 sensors are crucial instruments in livestock production.

CO2 sensors measure the level of carbon dioxide in the livestock house and combined with at farm controller it can help controlling the ventilation system automatically, ensuring optimum climate conditions for the animals.

Ammonia (NH₃) is one of the most significant environmental and welfare challenges in modern pig production. While it is a natural by-product of livestock systems, excessive ammonia emissions can negatively affect animal health, worker safety, and the surrounding environment. Understanding how ammonia is produced — and how it can be managed — is essential for sustainable, efficient pig farming.

What Is Ammonia and How Is It Produced?

In pig production, ammonia is primarily formed when urea and uric acid in manure and urine are broken down by bacteria. The enzyme urease, naturally present in feces, catalyzes this conversion, releasing ammonia gas into the air.

Key factors influencing ammonia formation include:

• Temperature: Higher temperatures accelerate bacterial activity and volatilization.
• pH: Ammonia release increases when manure pH is above 7.5.
• Ventilation: Inadequate ventilation allows ammonia to accumulate in barns.
• Manure management: Frequent removal and cooling of manure reduce emissions.

Learn more about the benefits of automated climate and ventilation in pig production.

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Impacts of Ammonia in Pig Housing

1. Animal Health and Welfare

High concentrations of ammonia irritate the pigs’ respiratory tract, leading to:

• Reduced lung function and increased susceptibility to respiratory diseases.
• Lower feed intake and growth rates.
• Increased stress and reduced overall welfare.

Concentrations above 20 ppm are considered harmful to pigs, and levels above 10 ppm are generally discouraged in modern facilities.

2. Worker Health

Ammonia exposure can cause eye and throat irritation, headaches, and long-term respiratory problems in farm workers. Maintaining clean air is therefore not only an animal welfare priority but also a matter of occupational safety.

3. Environmental Impact

Once emitted into the atmosphere, ammonia contributes to acid rain among other things. This has downstream effects on soil, water quality, and climate. The pig industry and other industries are under increasing regulatory pressure to reduce ammonia emissions as part of broader sustainability goals.

4. Production Performance and Efficiency

Ammonia doesn’t just affect welfare — it has a direct impact on productivity. Chronic exposure to elevated ammonia levels has been shown to:

• Reduce average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCR).
• Delay the time to reach market weight, increasing feed costs per kilogram of gain.
• Lead to uneven growth within groups, complicating management and marketing.

Studies indicate that pigs exposed to ammonia concentrations above 25–30 ppm may experience growth rate reductions of 5–10%, depending on duration and housing conditions. Maintaining low ammonia levels therefore supports both animal health and economic performance.

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CO2 Sensors for a better animal welfare

Keeping a low level of CO2 (carbon dioxide) is vital to agricultural production and animal welfare. In poultry and pig farms, a too high CO2 level can cause higher feed consdumption rates and higher mortality, thus impacting the performance of the production significantly and lower profits for farmers and farm managers.

Carbon dioxide accumilation in the barn, can cause respiratory problems and even death, which means that monitoring the CO2 level is vital to the production. Controlling the ventilation and eliminating CO2 in the house is one of the most important factors in poultry and pig production.

In addition, high levels of CO2 can cause stress and discomfort for the animals, leading to aggressive behavior and increased risk of injury. By monitoring the CO2 level and controlling the ventilation, farmers and farm managers can create a more comfortable and healthy environment for their animals, reducing the risk of disease and improving overall welfare.

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