Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) results in financial losses of $50 million annually for Quebec producers, in addition to compromising animal welfare. Solutions such as air filtration to prevent the introduction of viruses into buildings are expensive, demanding in terms of maintenance and installation.
However, in an agricultural context, it appears that a UV source using incandescent technology might be a potentially viable approach to eradicating PRRS, offering economic and technical advantages over air filtration. This technology also holds the potential to eliminate avian influenza virus and address the odors emanating from buildings, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The effectiveness of UV in treating air containing PRRS virus has already been demonstrated in the laboratory. Nonetheless, there is currently no commercially available and proven equipment for the swine industry. Therefore, the aim of this project is to design UV-based systems for air circulation, air disinfection, and odor reduction on pig and poultry farms, with real-time remote intelligent control.
Specific project objectives include :
- Treating the incoming air to prevent porcine contamination by airborne pathogens (comparable to air filtration).
- Treating the air expelled from the building to reduce odors and greenhouse gas emissions.
This project commenced in the fall of 2023 and is slated for completion in the autumn of 2024. The release of results is scheduled for winter 2025.
