Tag: Canadian Agricultural Adaption Program

Swine Quarantine Combines EPI Air and Filtration

Posted on by EPI Air

A recent Quarantine Project in Canada is studying new ways that a bio-containment system could be adapted for a swine barn. The preliminary results of the study were presented by Francis Pouliot, Eng M.B.A of the CDPQ,  at the Annual Canadian Swine Health Forum. The objective of the project was to quarantine infected gilts and prevent the spread of viruses into the atmosphere. In addition to making sure the viruses stay inside the quarantine room, they also studied how a new ventilation system could reduce the rate of clogging and maintenance of the filters, cutting cost to an affordable rate. Clogging and maintenance of the filters is the main problem with the concept of installing filtration equipment over the exhaust fan of a swine quarantine building. This innovative quarantine project used a combination of EPI Air® and filtration to achieve promising results (Read the project summary here).

One of the key challenges of this quarantine system is reducing the clogging rate of the filters at the exhaust fans, in an affordable, maintenance-reducing way. This is where the EPI (Electrostatic Particulate Ionization) Air System is used.

The Ionization System:

  • The EPI Air System is used inside the building to reduce the concentration of dust in the ambient air.
  • EPI Air’s effect significantly reduced the clogging rate and maintenance needs of filters.

The Filtration System:

  • Cyclonic pre-filters and antimicrobial filters are installed in front of exhaust fans to prevent viruses from escaping quarantine. Additional filters are installed over air inlets to prevent PRRS virus or other airborne diseases from entering the quarantine room.
  • The efficiency of the cyclonic pre-filters and the antimicrobial filters at blocking dust and microbial load are measured with and without using EPI Air.

The preliminary results of the quarantine project are very promising. Take a look at the charts below from Francis Pouliot’s CDPQ Presentation, to  to see how EPI Air made a significant difference reducing the overall dust concentration in the room and how EPI Air extended the useful life of the filter box. We look forward to seeing the final results of this study.

Differential pressure with and without EPI

Particles of dust before and after EPI

A portion of this project funding was provided by the sector councils of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan who administer the Canadian Agricultural Adaption Program (CAAP) for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Read about how Manitoba, Canada is improving the air quality in swine barns. 

Canadian Government Invests in EPI Project to Improve Air Quality in Manitoba Swine Barns

Posted on by EPI Air

The government of Canada recently announced in a press release dated May 23, 2012, that an investment of over $200,000 has been made that will help Manitoba pork producers.  The investment, made by the government of Canada, will be able to improve the health of hog herds and boost the bottom lines for those in the hog industry.

The investment is in two projects and is in support of the Manitoba Pork Council. Member of Parliament Merv Tweed (Brandon–Souris), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz stated in the press release,  “Our government is committed to the long-term viability of the hog industry in Manitoba and supports measures that will keep it profitable.” He goes on, “This investment will help improve animal health in the sector and grow long-term economic prosperity for our hog producers.”

The main project they are investing in with over $150,000 is to help improve the air quality of swine barns. They will be testing the effectiveness of an electrostatic space charge system (ESCS), which is also commonly known as electrostatic particle ionization (EPI).  ESCS/EPI can reduce and prevent the airborne transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).  PRRS is a highly infectious and deadly virus in swine that is reported to cost the Canadian industry an estimated $130 million per year.

The second investment will be used to perform a comparative study of cropping systems to promote the use of swine manure on Manitoba farms, with the hopes of identifying sustainable land management practices and lessen environmental impact.

Karl Kynoch, Chair of the Manitoba Pork Council stated, “As well, we are always looking for ways of improving air quality in barns and to find better disease prevention techniques. We also need to meet the provincial government’s regulatory process, and we believe these research projects can assist us in these goals.”

These projects are being funded by the Canadian Agricultural Adaption Program (CAAP).  The regional component of CAAP in Manitoba is the Canadian Agricultural Adaption Program(MRAC).

Read the full Press Release “Government of Canada Supports Manitoba Hog Industry”