Farmers are being advised that an investment in housing infrastructure could help protect them from high straw costs which are projected to rise by £40/tonne.

Scott Gearon, ventilation engineer for Galebreaker, says that with straw in short supply, now is the time to invest in ways to save money in the long term.

“Many farmers will have heard of our products as a means to combat heat stress in the summer months by increasing ventilation but reducing the amount of bedding needed in the winter is also a benefit,” he explains.

Gloucestershire beef farmer Chris Andrews installed a VentTube Cool system which ran year-round to increase ventilation to improve livestock health and productivity. 

“On his unit, the system worked to reduce heat stress in the summer while also preventing disease and ammonia build up which helped his cattle to finish earlier,” Scott says.

“In the winter months, the VentTube Cool’s continuous airflow wicked the moisture away from the bedding which reduced the amount of straw needed by 50%, saving him around £25 a day.”

Side curtains, like Galebreaker’s Variable Ventilation System (VVS), can also be used to prevent rain from entering buildings to stop the straw getting wet and harness the power of natural ventilation.

“The VVS side curtain uses temperature, wind speed and wind direction to continually optimise the conditions inside the building while the rain sensors close the curtain automatically when rain is detected,” Scott says.

“Ideally, a combination of the tube system and the side curtains gives farmers the best of both worlds and will allow farmers to take advantage of wind when its available but with the ability to use mechanical ventilation as a back-up.”

The current DEFRA Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2024 means that you could apply for up to £50,000 to improve your livestock’s welfare through ventilation, however farmers will need to act quickly as the application window closes on 1 May 2024.

“There’s never been a better time to invest in your unit because not only will the grant cover some of the cost of the new equipment, but the added benefit of reducing spending on bedding means that the system will pay for itself more quickly,” he says.