Housing, air hygiene and animal health.

Discusses the established principles and rules of air hygiene for animal housing and areas in which guidelines have yet to be devised. The most common pollutants are ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, methane and carbon dioxide. Dust and aerial microbial flora also have to be considered. Ventilation criteria for pigs and poultry and for cattle, sheep and horses are discussed. The current threshold limiting values for noxious gases and inert dust which could be used in the design and operation of livestock buildings are based on studies of humans rather than farm animals. No such values exist for airborne non-pathogenic bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms.