Abstract
The present study examined the cooling effects of an air heat pump (AHP) system. An AHP system was installed in a pig house to compare the effects with a traditional cooling system on the growth performance, noxious gas emission, housing environment and consumption of electricity. During the 19-week experimental trial, the internal temperature in the AHP cooling system-connected pig house was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) than the conventional house. Similarly, the temperature–humidity index (THI) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the growing and late finishing period. The carbon dioxide (CO2) and electricity consumption were also reduced significantly in the AHP cooling system relative to the control. The concentration of ammonia (NH3) during the weaning and finishing phase and the concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during all periods were lower in the AHP-installed pig house (p < 0.05). From 0–19 weeks, there was no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05) in terms of the growth performance of pigs in both houses. These results show that the AHP cooling system can be implemented as an environmentally friendly renewable energy source in swine farms for sustainable pig production and better air quality without adversely affecting productivity parameters.
Highlights
Effective and sustainable energy sources for the livestock and agriculture sector are currently needed because of the limited global fossil fuel availability
According to Oliver et al [3], fossil-fuel combustion is responsible for 90% of CO2 emissions, which is as harmful as deforestation and excessive arable land operations
The effects of the Air source heat pumps (AHP) cooling system in a swine house were evaluated for 19 weeks in summer from 29 May 2020 to
Summary
Effective and sustainable energy sources for the livestock and agriculture sector are currently needed because of the limited global fossil fuel availability. The fast-growing economic sector has increased the demand for various renewable resources, such as wind, biogas, and photovoltaic energy against the decreasing fossil energy resources [1]. Scientists have found that CO2 emissions to the atmosphere have increased by 31% since the 17th century, with an annual increment of 1.5 ppm [2]. According to Oliver et al [3], fossil-fuel combustion is responsible for 90% of CO2 emissions, which is as harmful as deforestation and excessive arable land operations. Implementing renewable energy sources will facilitate sustainable energy consumption, improved energy production, and environmental protection. It is essential to provide optimal temperature levels in swine houses to ensure their growth performance because they have an underdeveloped thermoregulation process [4,5]
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