Association between indoor air pollutants and pig productivity index by on-site application of air cleaner

Chronic wasting diseases of pigs and respiratory diseases of farm workers by exposure to various air pollutants in pig building are hygienic problems for contemporary pig production industry to solve urgently. This study was performed to evaluate contributions of air cleaner to air pollutants and pig productivity under on-site situation of commercial pig building. Air pollutants concentration and pig’s productivity index between the control room and the treatment room has been monitored for six months according to pig's rearing stage: 0 day (farrowing), 21st day (farrowing~weaning), 70th day (weaning~nursery), 140th day (nursery~growing) and 180th day (growing~fattening). Generally mean concentrations of air pollutants derived from pig building were relatively higher in the control room than in the treatment room. The reduction efficiencies of air cleaner for air pollutants were 5~10% for 0 day, 10~20% for 21^stday, 15~25% for 70^thday, 20~35% for 140^thday and 30~45% for 180^thday, respectively. Furthermore, application of air cleaner had a positive effect on pig's body weight gain, feed conversion, pig activity index and mortality rate through all the pig's rearing steps. The pig’s body weight gain and pig activity index showed significant correlations with TSP and PM_2.5, and TSP and airborne fungi, respectively.