The "barrel" fermentation bed hazard

<

The "Barrel" Fermentation Bed Hazard

First, what is the "Water Bucket" fermentation bed?

The so-called "barrel-type" fermentation bed refers to a type of structure that is highly irregular and poorly ventilated. It is often described as resembling a "water bucket" due to its tight, enclosed, and unventilated design. This kind of fermentation bed has several distinct features: 1) The windows are high and small, usually more than 1.5 meters above the ground, with an area of only about 1 square meter; 2) There are no floor-to-ceiling windows; 3) The walls are made of cement or bricks, surrounding the entire pen; 4) The pens are deep underground, making it difficult for air to circulate; 5) The ground is compacted and has very poor permeability; 6) The location is low-lying with a high water table—digging just one meter can reveal groundwater; 7) No fans are installed; 8) The bed is not turned over or maintained regularly. These characteristics make it look like a "water bucket," hence the name.

Second, the dangers of the "water bucket" fermentation bed.

The "barrel-type" fermentation bed is typically located in low-lying, underground areas, which makes it prone to issues such as blistering and muddy beds. Its window design and overall structure are also very inefficient, leading to reduced oxygen levels and increased air pollution inside the housing. As a result, it functions like an "exhaust collection center." In winter, when pig houses are tightly closed for insulation, the lack of proper ventilation and maintenance becomes even more dangerous. If harmful gas concentrations become too high, it can severely affect the health of livestock and poultry, weaken their immune systems, reduce productivity, and even endanger human workers. Additionally, the release of these gases into the atmosphere may contribute to acid rain, causing environmental damage.

Livestock waste, particularly urine, is one of the most significant sources of pollution in farming. It contains hundreds of organic odor-causing substances such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, alcohols, and methane. Among these, carbon dioxide and ammonia are the most harmful gases found in livestock houses. Other dangerous substances include hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and various malodorous compounds. These gases can cause serious harm to animals in the following ways:

1. Eye irritation: Ammonia is a colorless, irritating gas that can irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes, leading to congestion and swelling of the larynx. Hydrogen sulfide can cause severe eye irritation, resulting in conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

2. Respiratory issues: When pigs inhale air with 4% carbon dioxide, they may go into a coma. Ammonia can cause coughing, bronchitis, pulmonary edema, and even suffocation. Hydrogen sulfide can lead to bronchitis, toxic pneumonia, and pulmonary edema.

3. Weakened immunity: High levels of carbon dioxide reduce oxygen availability, causing chronic hypoxia in pigs. This leads to symptoms such as apathy, loss of appetite, and reduced productivity. At ammonia concentrations of 10–15 μl/l, the animal’s resistance drops significantly. At 100–150 μl/l, growth efficiency decreases by up to 30%.

4. Reduced growth performance: Exposure to even low levels of ammonia can lower the animal’s physical condition, reduce feed intake, and slow weight gain. At 50 ppm, the weight gain rate of pigs can decrease by 12%. At 0.002%, hydrogen sulfide can start to affect appetite.

5. Poisoning: High concentrations of ammonia can directly damage tissues, leading to necrosis and central nervous system paralysis. Carbon monoxide is toxic to blood and nerves.

6. Death: Prolonged exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide can cause autonomic dysfunction, multiple neuritis, weakness, weight loss, and a weakened immune system. Livestock may suffer from gastroenteritis and heart problems. The maximum safe level of hydrogen sulfide in the air is 10 mg/m³. At high concentrations, it can paralyze the respiratory center and cause suffocation.

Third, how to improve the "water bucket" fermentation bed.

The "barrel-type" fermentation bed not only causes bad bed conditions but also negatively affects the health and growth of animals, leading to significant economic losses. Even if the fermentation bed is not used, pigs should be raised in a clean and healthy environment. Solutions such as the "four-window complete" design and improved ventilation in the Jinbao fermentation bed have been developed to address these issues. Based on the characteristics of the "water bucket" fermentation bed, the following improvement measures are recommended to ensure healthier animal growth and maximize both economic and environmental benefits:

1. Window modification: Standard windows should be around 1 meter above the ground with an area of 1.2–1.5 m². Ground-level windows should be placed in at least one single pen per 20 square meters, with larger single-area windows for better airflow. For goldfish fermentation beds, the ideal height is 20 cm above the ground.

2. House renovation: Replace cement or brick walls with iron fences to improve ventilation and prevent stagnant air. Wooden fences can also be used to reduce costs while maintaining airflow.

3. Design based on local water levels: If the water table is high and the terrain is low, a ground-level design is preferable, with anti-seepage measures and drainage ditches dug deeper than 1 meter to improve drainage.

4. Enhance ventilation: Install electric fans or induced draft fans to increase airflow and use mechanical ventilation to improve air circulation.

5. Strengthen maintenance: Regularly turn the fermentation bed according to humidity levels and shake it once or twice a week. Golden Baby recommends this practice to maintain optimal conditions.

Veterinary Ultrasound Scanner

As customers have higher and higher requirements for animal reproduction and animal disease diagnosis and treatment, traditional diagnostic methods such as visual inspection, stethoscope listening, thermometer inspection, and percussion and hammering can no longer meet the needs of animal husbandry production and veterinary clinics. Today, B-ultrasound is playing a big role in human medical diagnosis, and in the future, B-ultrasound will also play a role in animal medicine. We should promote the use of veterinary ultrasound scanner step by step according to the actual situation, popularize the knowledge of the use of veterinary ultrasound scanner, take this as an opportunity, and use it as a ladder to improve the level of veterinary practice in our country.

Veterinary Ultrasound Scanner,Vet Ultrasound Scanner,Veterinary Ultrasound Machine,Veterinary Ultrasound Equipment

Mianyang United Ultrasound Electronics Co., Ltd , https://www.uniultrasonic.com