Bioenergetics of an ecotechnical system of laying hen farms

Abstract

Solar energy, fodder energy, microclimate optimization energy as well as technological process energy were defined as energy flows entering an egg production ecotechnical system. Nutrition biomass, chemical bond energy (eggs) and dung energy were estimated. Two criteria for energy consumption assessment were introduced: energy (kJ) consumed per unit of product and energy (kJ) consumed per unit of energy. Five fowl breeds were investigated. Restructuring in poultry farming was viewed with respect to the introduction of high performance breeds with low values of energy consumption. Elimination of systematic stress (abrupt transition of light intensity) reduced energy consumption in egg production. Methane fermentation parameters were optimized experimentally under laboratory conditions using a mathematical model. Dung biogas introduced an average of 25.75–29.52 MJ per bird into the observed system.