Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to monitor and evaluate the thermal environment and undertake a complete mapping of the variables air temperature, air relative humidity, and temperature-humidity index for broilers. The research was conducted during the winter, in Brazil, in a commercial poultry house fully walled with concrete-block masonry, equipped with a full-time negative-pressure mechanized ventilation system and indoor-environment air heating by a wood-burning furnace located outside the facility. The shed was fully automated and housed 30,000 birds at a density of 15 birds m-2. Thermal-environment data analysis revealed that the masonry-wall model did not ensure homogeneous thermal distribution within the poultry house, with the central region showing the highest air temperature and lowest air relative humidity values. The indoor environment did not provide thermal comfort to the housed birds, which were under thermal discomfort in certain situations in some internal regions of the shed.
Highlights
Poultry farming is one of the most important activities of the Brazilian agricultural sector
The research was conducted during the winter, in Brazil, in a commercial poultry house fully walled with concrete-block masonry, equipped with a full-time negative-pressure mechanized ventilation system and indoor-environment air heating by a wood-burning furnace located outside the facility
Thermal-environment data analysis revealed that the masonry-wall model did not ensure homogeneous thermal distribution within the poultry house, with the central region showing the highest air temperature and lowest air relative humidity values
Summary
Poultry farming is one of the most important activities of the Brazilian agricultural sector. The predominant tropical and subtropicalclimate characteristics of Brazil require a great deal of specific care. In this regard, specific architectonic and constructive typologies as well as differentiated environmental management systems predominate, but these often vary as a function of the production costs of each element involved in the activity. Specific architectonic and constructive typologies as well as differentiated environmental management systems predominate, but these often vary as a function of the production costs of each element involved in the activity This causes the rearing system to be an ongoing challenge for the poultry production systems adopted in the country (Abreu & Abreu, 2011). Birds are often stressed by either cold or heat, despite the generally low thermal amplitude (Hernandez et al, 2016b)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
