Economics of Tunnel Ventilation for Freestall Barns

A cash flow analysis of the application of tunnel ventilation to four standard freestall barn configurations was conducted with the objective of determining the amount of milk production required to be sustained based on a break-even investment. Other variables that are negatively affected by heat stress were not accounted for in the analysis due to the high degree of intangibility associated with them. Analysis showed that relatively little sustained production is required to pay for a tunnel ventilation system based on a 5-year payback period including areas of the country where tunnel fans would be used as little as 50 fan days per year (1,200 hrs.). This is a cash only basis analysis and does not look at actual economic rates of return, which is necessary for individual businesses to determine if this investment should be made based on their unique circumstances