How we protect pigs and chickens from CO2 poisoning and heat
In the summer of 2018, as many as 2.000 pigs died in a village not far from Eindhoven in the Netherlands. As the temperature in the barn rose to around 40 degrees after the ventilation system failed, the animals met their fatal end. Unfortunately, such scenes are not exceptional. What causes these situations is often a power outage or simply higher outside temperatures than the barn’s ventilation can handle. The cause of death is suffocation implying lack of oxygen or excessive CO2.
Due to global warming, summers with extremely hot temperatures are becoming more common. In addition, the care of pigs today is often automated. This gives the farmer more time to do other jobs, but it also means there is no constant supervision of the animals. If a ventilation system breaks down and the warning is not received in time, the consequences are disastrous.
Saving chicken lives as well
Not only pigs have become victims of these preventable situations. Chicken farms are facing similar problems. In 2010, in a town near Antwerp, Belgium, more than 50.000 chickens died after they went into respiratory distress. Their inability to sweat makes it difficult for them to function in such temperatures. Because of the extreme heat that summer, the animals were hopeless when the temperature rose to over 35 degrees. If on such a day the fan system breaks down, it is a lost cause for the chickens.
Independent solution
How can a farmer avoid ever becoming a victim of such situation? The recommended solution is a monitoring system that operates independently from the barn’s climate control. This is exactly what our Crodeon Reporter does. The Reporter is a wireless sensor device with a real-time cloud connection and a built-in alarm engine. Read on to find out how we designed the product with a focus on reliability and affordability.
Choose your sensors
Connect up to six sensors to a single Reporter and view the latest measurements wherever and whenever you want on the Crodeon Dashboard. Multiple buildings or compartments can be monitored with just one Reporter. For each challenge we offer one or more specific sensors.
To keep abreast of the temperature in the stables, we offer a simple temperature sensor. Just connect the sensor to the Reporter and view the measurements online.
To prevent suffocation, measuring the CO2 is essential. Our CO2 sensor registers CO2 as well as temperature and humidity, the perfect combination for keeping your pigs safe.
The animals' drinking supply is another critical component in a modern farm. By mounting a pressure sensor on the water pipes, you can monitor the pressure at all times. Using a flow sensor you can keep track of the water consumption.
Power outage is one of the most common causes of ventilation system failure. To tackle this problem, we provide continuous monitoring of the mains power. With a lithium-ion battery on board, the Reporter functions independently and separately from the ventilation system and power supply; only cellphone coverage is required.
Alarm notifications
For each connected sensor, the user can define thresholds, delays and other alarm settings. Receive a notification by SMS or voice call when the temperature or CO2 exceeds certain limits. If the power goes down, the Reporter gives an immediate notification.
Up to four people can be notified in case of an emergency. If there is no immediate response, the next contact in line is called.
We monitor your alarm system
Alarm systems have been around for quite a while now. What really sets the Crodeon Reporter apart is our monitored connection. The Crodeon Dashboard automatically monitors the data link of every Reporter. When one of our devices stops working, when the cellphone provider is offline or in case of a broken sensor, the customer is contacted within 24 hours. This way you can be sure that your Reporter is working properly throughout the year.
No technical expertise needed
Our Reporter offers a low-cost solution with a focus on ease of use. No need for technical expertise, as the Reporter is easy to install yourself in a couple of minutes. Just plug the sensors into their respective connector and mount the device to the wall. Log in to the app and your data appears. The Reporter is waterproof and UV-resistant so it can be installed inside or outside your barn.
Get in touch if you have any additional questions, or take a look at our shop to make your own quote.
