Friday, July 24, 2015

How Does Much Bacteria Count in Air Vary?

In a presentation at this year's Dairy Calf and Heifer Association meetings Ken Nordland (University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine) reminded the audience about the variations of bacteria counts in various settings. 

Outdoor - can go as low as 100-1,000 colony-forming units per cubic meter.

Clean office air will have 1,000 - 2,000 cfu/cubic meter.

Well ventilated livestock barn 10,000 - 15,000cfu/cubic meter. 

Poorly ventilated livestock barn 25,000 to 3 million cfu/cubic meter.

How about that 3,000,000cfu/cubic meter! No wonder that an effective positive pressure ventilation system can reduce the treatment rate for pneumonia in calf barns.

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