Lecturer speaks to agricultural building contractors

Posted 11 July 2012

The importance of providing adequate ventilation in livestock buildings was the message from Harper Adams lecturer, Jim Loynes, to industry experts recently.

Mr Loynes, Assistant Head of Engineering at the University College in Shropshire, spoke to 50 members of the Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association (RIDBA) at their quarterly council meeting.

He gave a presentation about the natural ventilation of livestock buildings, including examples of good and bad designs and possible improvements.

Mr Loynes, said: “When considering stock housing, a general purpose building, which is one the purchaser can adapt to meet his needs, will not satisfy the needs of the stock.

“Over-design may be a better solution as it is easier to close up a building than to open it up to ventilation.”

Suppliers such as RIDBA members need to know exactly how the farmer intends to use the building and what animals are to be housed in it, and finally, which Quality Assurance scheme (such as Red Tractor) the farmer aims to satisfy.

Mr Loynes added: “Unless you know exactly this, in my opinion there is no way you can provide a building with even adequate natural ventilation openings in it.”

To find out more, contact jloynes@harper-adams.ac.uk