How do we make sense of all these options available to dairy producers, when fan manufacturers and sales reps are all sure that they are the only ones with the best possible fan to offer and everything else is inferior to their product? The first thing to understand is that there are two main types of fans – exhaust-style fans and circulation-style fans.

Designing a natural ventilation system for your dairy involves putting together two necessary elements that create optimum conditions for year-round cow comfort. The basic design involves creating sidewall openings that allow adequate air movement through your barn in spring, fall and summer and creating a ridge opening to facilitate proper minimum air exchange in winter conditions.

With as little as 16-kilometre- per-hour winds, a properly designed natural ventilation system will provide more than adequate air exchange for your dairy during hot weather.