Abstract
This study aimed to analyze bioclimatic indexes: black globe temperature and humidity index (BGHI) and radiant thermal load (RTL) in Santa Ines sheep farms, with and without coverage to develop a fuzzy logical computational model to forecast variables analyzed experimentally. Ten Santa Ines sheep were placed in two cover paddocks, and one without cover. Data recorded were: air temperature schedules and black globe (°C), relative humidity (%) and wind speed (m s-1), and BGHI and RTL were calculated. Computational models were developed using fuzzy logic which had as input variables, air temperature (°C) relative humidity (%) for the output variables BGHI and RTL. Based on the experimental data, there were also certain relevance curves that conform more to the results for the model generation via Fuzzy logic. The Mandani inference method was used for the preparation of rules and defuzzification of the center of gravity method was applied. The results showed that in the critical periods, 12 to 14 h, coverage was insufficient to differentiate between stress environments. It was also found that the Fuzzy models compared with the experimental data were highly correlated with R² equal to 0.99, proving it is suitable for implementation in practice. Key words: Computational model, heat stress, shelter, simulation.
Highlights
In Brazil, sheep farming in the northeast is done in small farms, represents a source of resource generation (Ribeiro et al, 2008), being exploited with a low level of technology
When studying the comfort of Santa Inês sheep raised in uncovered environment and shaded with polypropylene tiles in the Petrolina region, PE, Brazil, Oliveira et al (2013) found a significant effect between the two environments and shifts of the day for the black globe temperature and humidity index (BGHI) in the dry season with values varying from 82 to 85 for the shaded and uncovered environment, respectively, where they concluded that values above 82 represented an alert condition for sheep Santa Inês
Leitão et al (2013) found ITGU values above 94 when keeping Santa Inês sheep in paddocks deprived of coverage in Juazeiro, BA, Brazil, in the dry period, concluding that the existence of a cover can have a significant effect on the reduction of the stress condition for sheep raised in the semiarid
Summary
In Brazil, sheep farming in the northeast is done in small farms, represents a source of resource generation (Ribeiro et al, 2008), being exploited with a low level of technology. Santos et al (2011) reported that in this region, most sheep are raised in pastures with little or no shade and analyzing the effect of shading on the comfort of Santa Inês sheep, showed that the shade provided by the trees reduced the radiant heat load by up to 44.7%, providing a better thermal environment for the animals. The uses of new information technology tools favor the accuracy of research and the development of expert systems for decision making
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