Several years ago, a call came into the office about 7 a.m. on a cold January day. An angry woman proceeded to tell me that some d!*# farmer had left his cows out in the cold and that I ought to do some thing about it.

The temperature had dropped into the single digit range overnight with a bright moon and glistening stars above. Fortunately, my route to the Ag Center takes me right past the farm in question. Indeed, the cows were lying out in the pasture that crisp morning, near the road for all to see. Nothing seemed significant to me until I received the irate phone call.

Attempting to reason with the lady, I pointed out that the barn door was always open and that she could verify that upon driving by most anytime. The reason I explained that the cattle likely chose to be outside was that the air was fresher than inside of the barn, therefore it was more comfortable to be out than in.

She informed me that explanation was rubbish and that the farmer should pen the animals inside for their own good, since the poor dumb critters did not know any better. When I suggested that the cows might be smarter than her she hung up.

Please understand, discussions with livestock producers have sometimes been just as difficult, when trying to reason why we should manage buildings for animal well-being, not necessarily the comfort of the farmer who might only be in the building an hour or less each day. Some of the same folks that complain about high veterinary bills due to respiratory diseases darn near refuse to work in a barn operated for the betterment of livestock.

It pains me to drive through the country on a cold calm day and see naturally ventilated barns buttoned up with all curtains and doors closed. I have to wonder about the air quality inside of the structure, regardless the number of animals inside.

A friend has brood cows and ewes, probably doing as well as anyone I know in keeping his animals free of respiratory illness throughout the year. His cattle never see the inside of a barn unless they are leaving the farm, since the loading chute is in the barn. You read that correctly, those bovines do not have a roof over their heads during inclement weather. However, they do have brushy swales they can retreat to for protection from the wind. They generally calve in mid-March, outside. The ewes, which lamb in January, do enjoy the protection of an old open front converted machinery storage building. The point is that both the cattle and sheep, young and mature, benefit from plenty of fresh air.

Animals housed in naturally ventilated buildings need a continuous exchange of air to remove heat, moisture, odors and airborne pathogens. Dr. Gordie Jones, formerly the state extension veterinarian in Wisconsin, once stated that if you can feel moisture on barn walls, ceilings or gates, the relative humidity in that building is probably near 90 percent. When enough fresh air is brought in to lower the RH 10 percent, the airborne pathogen load will drop by 50 percent. Since airborne pathogens flourish in warm moist environments, it makes a lot of sense to entice the removal of those respiratory disease causing organisms via improved ventilation.

Adequate air exchange can be achieved through proper design of building eave and ridge vents, curtains, doors and open sides. Livestock will greatly benefit improved ventilation that can be provided without drafts, but plenty of fresh air.

Readers with questions or comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.