Applications - IN AGRO-INDUSTRY

Keeping Livestock Cool in Hot Climates

Overview

Using agricultural buildings fitted with an Apollo Energy Research Heat Reflecting Membrane system will enhance the following :-

1. Environmental control over:-

• Temperature   • Humidity   • Ventilation   • Lighting   • Airflow

2. Productivity and body mass ratio of animals or poultry.

3. Dairy cow conception rates with a resulting increased population growth rate. 

4. Milk or bird production.

5. Disease control.Keeping livestock cool in hot climates, where temperatures can, in the case of the Middle Eastern countries, exceed 50°C (122°F) is a major task. The following pages 10 to 12 outline the features and benefits that accrue to the livestock grower with actual installation examples in hot climates.

Dairy Shed Applications
Commonly, water spray systems are used to drop high temperatures in buildings by as much as 17°C (62°F). The systems maintain average milk yields of more than 37 litres/day for the whole farm and keep conception rates over 35% even in the hottest months of the year.

With the advent of Heat Reflecting Membranes, (HRM’s) these figures can be further enhanced with reduced electrical power required for cooling fans and pumps. Apollo’s heat reflecting technology will provide better environmental control over temperature, humidity and air movement within the building’s envelope.

The most difficult time of year to breed livestock is in the hottest months when the conception rates drop due to excessive heat. Usually, the highest annual milk requirement also falls within the same period.

By controlling the shed environment through the use of a HRM, such as Apollo Thermo-Foil, coupled with a water spray system such as Korral Kool, the mid-day interior temperature can be lowered to 27°C (80°F). In the Middle East the ensuing temperature drop reduces stress on the housed animal’s making it possible to optimise milk yield and increase conception rates.

Poultry House Applications
Heat Reflecting Membrane System helps keep poultry healthy ... In many parts of the world, rearing poultry in buildings can be hampered by excessive temperature, cold or hot air infiltration and high or low humidity. In temperate and hot, dry climates keeping poultry houses at the optimum temperature and humidity level by providing adequate ventilation is a major problem for the grower, as poor air quality and heat/cold stress on a flock can seriously effect efficient production. Even in semi-tropical and tropical climates, where poultry houses may have open sides, heat can easily rise to detrimental levels as infrared energy from the sun conducts through the roof, then radiates from its inner surface into the building and its feathered occupants. ... Due to its high protein content and lower cost of production, the increased demand on poultry farming is acute throughout the world, never more so than in those countries where the use of beef or pork is prohibited. Pages 10 and 11 are devoted to poultry houses including installation examples.

Application Example - Keeping Poultry in South East Asia
Keeping poultry in hot climates such as Thailand, where temperatures can easily exceed 27°C (80°F) is a major task.
With the advent of Heat Reflecting Membranes, (HRM’s) poultry production can be greatly enhanced (upwards of 20%) with reduced electrical power required for cooling fans and pumps. Apollo Energy Research HRM systems provide superior environmental control over temperature, humidity and air movement within poultry houses.

In Thailand the most difficult time of year for egg yields and growing times are in the hottest months. By controlling a poultry house environment through the use of a HRM, such as Apollo Thermo-Foil, radiant heat stress on a flock is reduced making it possible to decrease growing times by 17% to 24%.

The use of an Apollo Energy Research HRM in Thai poultry houses has enhanced their operation in the following ways:

1. Environmental control within the poultry house especially the control of solar heat penetrating into the interior as infrared energy.

• Temperature - radiant heat
• Humidity   • Ventilation   • Lighting   • Airflow

2. Increase rearing capacity in a given physical area, from 8 or 9 chickens per square metre to 15 chickens or from 3.6 chickens per square metre to 5 or 6 chickens. The cooler interior can help to increase the weight of a chicken from 40 grams (1.4 oz) at 1 day old to 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs) at 42 days.
 
3. Increased productivity and body mass ratio of chicken.

4. Decreased rearing period of chickens from 49 or 50 days to 42 or 43 days.

5. Increased population growth rate from 5 to 6 generations per year.

6. Reduced mortality rate, especially chickens and the promotion of livestock health.

7. Livestock units, with the addition of Apollo Thermo-Foil, provides protection against the egress of insects and rodents and has the added advantages of not providing a food source, nor a nesting habitat, for insects and other pests. Thermo-Foil is moisture and dilute acid/alkali resistant so can be pressure washed to remove waste products.

8. Electrical power, maintenance and manpower requirements are all reduced.

Stable Applications
The horse in its natural environment finds shade from the sun in a spot were it catches any breeze that might be available. The shade would have been under a tree or in the cool of a sheltered rock face. Man has taken this out-door grazing animal and placed it indoors in order to feed and exercise it to produce a riding, work, competition or racehorse. To optimise its performance or indeed the rearing or breeding periods of its life, it requires fresh air and shade. Buildings should be positioned to catch any prevailing winds and designed to have good ventilation to allow the warmth produced by the animals to rise up and out of the building.

Shading must be provided by a roof. However in hot weather conditions, solar energy striking a roof will conduct through its structure and then radiate into the interior and onto the stabled horses. By fitting an Apollo HRM under a roof, this penetrating infrared energy is blocked and a more comfortable environment provided for the animals.

Source and further advice:
Richard Matson, British Equestrian Trade Overseas, Twemlows Hall,
Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 2EZ
UKTel: +44 (0) 1948 66 49 66Fax: +44 (0) 1948 66 38 36
email: richardmatson@twemlows.co.uk