Poultry Buildings Research Articles

Insectes des Bâtiments d’élevages avicoles des fermes de Bingerville, Côte d’Ivoire : Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

This study was conducted in two sides of Bingerville (Abatta and Anna) in southern Côte d'Ivoire. The objective was to inventory the entomofauna of poultry farms in order to verify the presence of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebionidae) in Côte d'Ivoire. It also aimed to establish correlation between Alphitobius diaperinus density in livestock buildings and the loss on poultry production. Thirty (30) poultry buildings were investigated during 3 months. A survey questionnaire on farm characteristics, diseases and mortality was submitted to farmers. The poultry litter was collected, transported to the laboratory and excavated. Insects were determined and counted. A total of 19661 insects were collected on both sites. Alphitobius diaperinus accounts for 96.63% of collected insects. The statistical comparison showed that A. diaperinus is the most representative insect (P <0.0001). This insect is unevenly distributed in chicken farms (n = 89, F = 3.67, and P ˂ 0.00001). Out of 18998 Alphitobius diaperinus collected, a total of 14362 (75.60%) were recorded in the column of feeders and waterers, and only, 4636 (24.40%) off feeders and waterers’. The study also revealed a strong correlation (R = +0.88) between the density of A diaperinus and the loss on chicken production due to avian diseases such as Gumboro, Newcastle, and Mareck. This insect is suspected to be the vector of these aggressive diseases of poultry. Our results reveal for the first time, the effective presence of Alphitobius diaperinus in poultry farms in Côte d'Ivoire.

A study on environmental impact of insulation thickness of poultry building walls

In this paper, the optimum insulation thicknesses, energy savings, payback periods and emission rates of CO2 were determined for poultry buildings in the cities of Antalya, Samsun, Ankara and Erzurum, located in different climates of Turkey. The calculations were made considering five different fuels (coal, fuel-oil, natural gas, LPG and electricity) and two different insulation materials, extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS). As a result of this study, it was determined that XPS insulation materials offered an optimum thickness ranging from 1.20 to 8.10 cm, provided an energy savings between 15.38% and 69.90%, and required payback periods between 3.02 and 0.90 years, while EPS insulation materials offered an optimum thickness ranging between 2.00 and 11.80 cm, provided an energy savings between 21.82% and 70.61%, and required payback periods between 2.64 and 0.78 years, depending on the cities and fuel types. The lowest values of reduction of CO2 emission (39.82%) were obtained for Antalya when XPS and natural gas are used as optimum insulation material while Erzurum has the highest value (83.98%) for EPS and LPG.

Automation of air disinfection and lighting in agricultural buildings

The article describes the urgency of this problem and modern ways of its solving. Modern disinfection and lighting systems are not developed enough. The authors proposed to automate the system of disinfection, dust removal and lighting in the farm building. We developed algorithm on the basis of which the universal program in the programming language C ++ was written. Assembled the microprocessor set ARDUINO. The program is included in the microprocessor ATMEGA, which is part of ARDUINO. As a basis for the disinfection system, a two-component ARUF device was used, which includes two decontaminating components: an ultraviolet lamp and an aerosol dispenser. Each of the algorithms (lighting and disinfection) consists of 3 parts: data collection and analysis, control, data output to the display. The sequence of 3 parts is 1 cycle, then it repeated. In the first part on the basis of indications of sensors assignment to variables of some values was carried out. In the second part, based on the values of the variables, the decontamination and lighting devices are controlled. In the third part due to changing the screen number, variable, it is possible to switch the display and view the status of the installation and external parameters. The program, written on the basis of algorithms, is universal and suitable for almost any poultry and livestock buildings. All parameters (the time of the beginning and completion of the ARUV operation within 24 hours, the daily time of the illumination of a certain cycle, the maximum and minimum humidity, the duration of each cycle) used for control and management are variables. Operator can set the items using the display in the menu.

Arthropod communities of laying hen houses: An integrative pilot study toward conservation biocontrol of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae (de Geer), is a hematophagous mite of economic importance in the poultry industry. Because PRM lives off-host in habitats potentially shared by many micropredators, biocontrol agents have potential to regulate this pest in poultry buildings. The present pilot study was conducted to obtain a first insight into predatory and parasitic arthropod communities that naturally occur on layer farms in France. Species composition and sensitivity to insecticides were determined to estimate the feasibility of conservation biological control (CBC) of PRM based on a 2-scale concept (regional and local effects). A morpho-molecular approach was used to characterize the taxonomic composition of manure-dwelling arthropod communities, with a focus on mesostigmatid mites, that naturally occur in free-range layer farms. Additionally, the sensitivity of some dominant mite species to a common insecticide (deltamethrin) was measured via bioassays. The putative roles of recorded taxa within ecological guilds and their dispersal habits are discussed based on the results of multivariate and univariate analyses. Local and regional factors had significant effects on both high-level taxonomic arthropod groups and mesostigmatid morphospecies. In addition to documenting the occurrence and apparent establishment of highly mobile arthropods in hen houses, these results are considered promising for the development of CBC against PRM. Populations of two recurrent mesostigmatid morphospecies demonstrated an extreme sensitivity to the pyrethroid, suggesting that even very low levels of insecticide use are likely to have unnoticed deleterious effects on natural regulation processes in layer buildings. Lastly, a robust method for exploring mesostigmatid mite communities in manure is provided.

국내 계사(鷄舍) 작업장 유형에 따른 분진 농도 및 발생량 분포

국내 계사(鷄舍) 작업장 유형에 따른 분진 농도 및 발생량 분포

An Effect Influencing on the Environment and Production of Broiler according to the Cold Water Supply using Heat Pump

This study aims at providing a basic data for the development of high energy efficient environment system in the cage (poultry buildings) and cold potable water supply to reduce the summer heat stress. For this study, the cage area size was 273m 2 and the air-to-water heat pump capacity was 20RT for heating and cooling. As the result of this study, the temperature of the drinking water supplied by heat pump was maintained at the set temperature of 15℃. However, the water temperature of control was 23~28 ℃ due to the effect of outside temperature. The average internal cage temperature was 25.3 ℃ in the test group and 28.1 ℃ in the control group, which was 2.8 ℃ higher than that of the control group. The relative humidity was 76.2% in the test group and 75.0% in the control group. The broiler drank 23.2 L / day in the test group and 21.5 L / day in the control group. Daily feed intake was 937 g and and 725 g in the cold water and control water respectively. The feed intake of 212 g was higher than that of cold water. The feeding rates were 1.8 and 1.9. Body weights were 1,523 g and 1,164 g in the cold water and control water respectively. The weight gain was 359 g in the test group fed with cold water and 392 g in the control group. When compared with the control group, the mortality rate was reduced by 84% in the cold water feeding test. It is necessary that future research will continue to reduce the incidence of such livestock accidents.’.

Exposure level and emission characteristics of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide in poultry buildings of South Korea

The purpose of this study is to estimate the concentrations and emission rates of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide released from poultry buildings situated in South Korea by field investigation. Mean concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide emitted from poultry buildings were 18.8 (±4.90) ppm and 945 (±519) ppb for caged layer house, 15.2 (±3.21) ppm and 603 (±274) ppb for broiler house, and 6.45 (±1.85) ppm and 247 (±184) ppb for layer house with manure belt, respectively. Seasonal variations in concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide in poultry building were observed highest in winter, lowest in summer (p < 0.01). Based on animal unit (AU), mean emission rates of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide were 4493 (±2095) mg AU−1 h−1 and 4493 (±2095) mg AU−1 h−1, respectively. Those of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide in terms of poultry building area were 278 (±130) mg m−2 h−1 and 12.3 (±9.20) mg m−2 h−1, respectively. Exposure level and emission rate of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide were highest in caged layer house, followed by broiler house and layer house with manure belt (p < 0.05). This finding implicates that the caged layer house among types of poultry building in South Korea should be managed optimally to lessen generation of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide.

Inactivation of Avian Influenza Viruses on Porous and Non-porous Surfaces is Enhanced by Elevating Absolute Humidity.

This study was to evaluate the effect of absolute humidity (AH), a combined factor of temperature and relative humidity (RH), on inactivation of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) on surfaces. Suspensions of the H9N2 or H6N2 AIV were deposited onto carrier surfaces that were either porous (pine wood) or non-porous (stainless steel, synthetic rubber and glass). The inoculated carriers were incubated at 23, 35 or 45°C with 25% or 55% RH for up to 28days. After incubation, virus was recovered and quantified by chicken embryo assays. The time required to obtain a log10 reduction in virus infectivity (D-value) was estimated using a linear regression model. At AH of 5.2g/m3 (23°C & 25% RH), both viruses survived up to 14days on the porous surface and for at least 28days on the non-porous surfaces. The corresponding D-values for H9N2 and H6N2 were 1.49 and 6.90days on the porous surface and 7.81 and 12.5days on the non-porous surfaces, respectively. In comparison, at AH of 9.9g/m3 (35°C & 25% RH) or 11.3g/m3 (23°C & 55% RH), the D-values for H9N2 and H6N2 dropped to ≤0.76day on the porous surface and to ≤1.81days on the non-porous surfaces. As the AH continued to rise from 11.3 to 36.0g/m3 , the D-value for both viruses decreased further. The relationship between D-value and AH followed a form of y=ax-b for both viruses. The D-values for H9N2 virus were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those for H6N2 virus. Exposure to ammonia gas at concentrations of 86 and 173ppm did not significantly alter test results. The findings give evidence that increasing the AH in poultry buildings following an outbreak of disease could greatly reduce the length of time required for their decontamination.

Preliminary laboratory test on navigation accuracy of an autonomous robot for measuring air quality in livestock buildings

Air quality in many poultry buildings is less than desirable. However, the measurement of concentrations of airborne pollutants in livestock buildings is generally quite difficult. To counter this, the development of an autonomous robot that could collect key environmental data continuously in livestock buildings was initiated. This research presents a specific part of the larger study that focused on the preliminary laboratory test for evaluating the navigation precision of the robot being developed under the different ground surface conditions and different localization algorithm according internal sensors. The construction of the robot was such that each wheel of the robot was driven by an independent DC motor with four odometers fixed on each motor. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) was rigidly fixed on the robot vehicle platform. The research focused on using the internal sensors to calculate the robot position (x, y, θ) through three different methods. The first method relied only on odometer dead reckoning (ODR), the second method was the combination of odometer and gyroscope data dead reckoning (OGDR) and the last method was based on Kalman filter data fusion algorithm (KFDF). A series of tests were completed to generate the robot’s trajectory and analyse the localisation accuracy. These tests were conducted on different types of surfaces and path profiles. The results proved that the ODR calculation of the position of the robot is inaccurate due to the cumulative errors and the large deviation of the heading angle estimate. However, improved use of the gyroscope data of the IMU sensor improved the accuracy of the robot heading angle estimate. The KFDF calculation resulted in a better heading angle estimate than the ODR or OGDR calculations. The ground type was also found to be an influencing factor of localisation errors. Keywords: autonomous robot, air quality, navigation, Kalman filter data fusion, livestock building, robot localization DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20160902.1189 Citation: Qi H X, Banhazi T M, Zhang Z G, Low T, Brookshaw I J. Preliminary laboratory test on navigation accuracy of an autonomous robot for measuring air quality in livestock buildings. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2016; 9(2): 29－39.

Optimum Design of Environmental Improvement System for Poultry Buildings by Air Conditioning and Drinking Water using Heat Pump

Optimum Design of Environmental Improvement System for Poultry Buildings by Air Conditioning and Drinking Water using Heat Pump

Can UK livestock production be configured to maintain production while meeting targets to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and ammonia?

Abstract We used a Life Cycle Assessment approach to determine whether the inherent differences in emissions to air among existing livestock production systems could be used to reconfigure the UK livestock sector in order to meet current greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH 3 ) targets while maintaining production at current levels. Output, defined as financial value, was optimized across all sub-sectors. Using current management systems the greatest livestock output that could be maintained, while meeting emission reduction targets, was 84% of current. Adopting the most appropriate manure management practices and improved feed conversion ratio enables a further increase in outputs to 86% of current. Dairy production could be maintained at 84.1% of current if all production arises from high-yielding herds with autumn calving, all dairy cow manure is managed as slurry and diets to reduce rumen fermentation are adopted. Increasing the proportion of calves obtained from the dairy herd by 10% could maintain beef production at 85% of current. Raising finishing pigs on slurry systems, raising sows and weaners outdoors, finishing pigs at either 89 or 99 kg and improving dietary nitrogen use efficiency could maintain pig production at 87.5% of current. Manure drying within poultry buildings, immediate incorporation of poultry manures to tillage land and reduced protein feeds would allow 82.2% of current poultry meat production. Eliminating free-range egg systems and drying manure within the building could maintain egg production at 85.5% of current. Replacing lowland sheep herds (other than organic) with upland production could maintain sheep output at 86.4% of current.

Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Indoor Concentrations of Odorous Compounds according to Poultry Buildings

Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Indoor Concentrations of Odorous Compounds according to Poultry Buildings

Exploring Ventilation Efficiency in Poultry Buildings: The Validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in a Cross-Mechanically Ventilated Broiler Farm

Broiler production in modern poultry farms commonly uses mechanical ventilation systems. This mechanical ventilation requires an amount of electric energy and a high level of investment in technology. Nevertheless, broiler production is affected by periodic problems of mortality because of thermal stress, thus being crucial to explore the ventilation efficiency. In this article, we analyze a cross-mechanical ventilation system focusing on air velocity distribution. In this way, two methodologies were used to explore indoor environment in livestock buildings: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and direct measurements for verification and validation (V&amp;V) of CFD. In this study, a validation model using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was conducted to compare these methodologies. The results showed that both methodologies were similar in results: the average of air velocities values were 0.60 ± 0.56 m s−1 for CFD and 0.64 ± 0.54 m s−1 for direct measurements. In conclusion, the air velocity was not affected by the methodology (CFD or direct measurements), and the CFD simulations were therefore validated to analyze indoor environment of poultry farms and its operations. A better knowledge of the indoor environment may contribute to reduce the demand of electric energy, increasing benefits and improving the thermal comfort of broilers.

PARÂMETROS ARQUITETÔNICO-AMBIENTAIS PARA CONSTRUÇÃO E TESTES EM MODELOS REDUZIDOS, REPRESENTATIVOS DE GALPÕES AVÍCOLAS, COM BASE EM SIMILITUDE

Considerando a importância do uso de modelos reduzidos no estudo do conforto térmico na criação de aves objetivouse, com o presente trabalho, testar em um galpão comercial de frangos de corte pesadas e três modelos reduzidos construídos em diferentes escalas (1:4, 1:8 e 1:12), a validade das relações propostas e determinar, também, a escala de redução ideal para este tipo de experimento, no qual o conforto térmico foi avaliado por meio do índice de temperatura de globo negro e umidade (ITGU). Com base nos resultados pode-se concluir que, para as condições de operação e critérios de projeto estabelecidos, utilizando o ITGU como índice térmico ambiental de instalações agrícolas, é possível predizer as condições térmicas ambientais em um protótipo, a partir de modelos reduzidos em até 12 vezes.

Endotoxin concentration in poultry houses for laying hens kept in cages or in alternative housing systems

1. Endotoxins as components of organic dust may have adverse effects on the respiratory health of workers in poultry buildings. The move towards more welfare-friendly housing systems for layers may increase worker exposure to air contaminants due to the use of litter. 2. The endotoxin concentrations in the inhalable fraction of airborne dust (below 100 µm) from cage and alternative system houses (on-floor, free range and aviaries) were compared under both experimental and commercial conditions. 3. The endotoxin concentration was higher in experimental aviaries (median: 565 EU/m3, range: 362-1491 EU/m3) than in cage housing (98 EU/m3 (51-470)). 4. In field conditions, the endotoxin concentration in the air of 13 alternative houses was higher (35 to 3156 EU/m3) than in cage system buildings (n = 8, 78-576 EU/m3). It was correlated to the respirable dust concentration (fraction below 5 µm) and to the temperature inside the hen house but no seasonal variation was observed. 5. The present study emphasises that considerable worker exposure to endotoxins may occur in laying houses, especially in alternative systems.

Culture-Independent Characterization of Bacteria and Fungi in a Poultry Bioaerosol Using Pyrosequencing: A New Approach

Work in animal production facilities often results in exposure to organic dusts. Previous studies have documented decreases in pulmonary function and lung inflammation among workers exposed to organic dust in the poultry industry. Bacteria and fungi have been reported as components of the organic dust produced in poultry facilities. To date, little is known about the diversity and concentration of bacteria and fungi inside poultry buildings. All previous investigations have utilized culture-based methods for analysis that identify only biota cultured on selected media. The bacterial tag-encoded flexible (FLX) amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) and fungal tag-encoded flexible (FLX) amplicon pyrosequencing (fTEFAP) are modern and comprehensive approaches for determining biodiversity of microorganisms and have not previously been used to provide characterization of exposure to microorganisms in an occupational environment. This article illustrates the potential application of this novel technique in occupational exposure assessment as well as other settings. An 8-hr area sample was collected using an Institute of Medicine inhalable sampler attached to a mannequin in a poultry confinement building. The sample was analyzed using bTEFAP and fTEFAP. Of the bacteria and fungi detected, 116 and 39 genera were identified, respectively. Among bacteria, Staphylococcus cohnii was present in the highest proportion (23%). The total inhalable bacteria concentration was estimated to be 7503 cells/m 3 . Among the fungi identified, Sagenomella sclerotialis was present in the highest proportion (37%). Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium janthinellum were also present in high proportions. The total inhalable fungi concentration was estimated to be 1810 cells/m 3 . These estimates are lower than what has been reported by others using standard epifluorescence microscope methods. However, no study has used non-culture-based techniques, such as bTEFAP and fTEFAP, to evaluate bacteria and fungi in the inhalable fraction of a bioaerosol in a broiler production environment. Furthermore, the impact of this bTEFAP and fTEFAP technology has yet to be realized by the scientific community dedicated to evaluating occupational and environmental bioaerosol exposure.

Development and field test of an on-line computerized instrumentation system for air velocity, temperature and differential pressure measurements in poultry houses

Experimental research on airflow patterns and thermal comfort in livestock buildings require the development of an on-line multi-point computerized system for environmental measurements. The characteristics, development and tests of such equipment are described in this article. The system was based on a laptop, a data acquisition card with 16 input channels and a set of air temperature, air velocity and differential pressure sensors. Sensors were resistance temperature detectors for temperature and air velocity measurements. The accuracy of the computerized sensing system after calibration was, for air velocity measurements, 0.05 m s–1 in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 m s–1, and from 0.03 to 0.14 m s–1 in the range of 1.5 to 7 m s–1; 0.2°C for air temperature measurements; and 5 Pa for pressure measurements. The system has been used in several research studies in commercial poultry buildings and the developed system has been proven to be robust and stable.

Ventilation rates in mechanically-ventilated commercial poultry buildings in Southern Europe: Measurement system development and uncertainty analysis

Measuring ventilation rate in intensive livestock buildings is important to improve the indoor environment and to determine the emission of gas pollutants from the building. However, measuring ventilation rates in commercial animal houses is difficult in practice. In this study a system to measure ventilation in a mechanically-ventilated commercial broiler farm with constant flow fans is presented. The system consisted of a low voltage DC circuit, connected to the signal circuit of the fan motor relays. Ventilation rate was determined hourly in one summer and one winter cycle (46 and 36 days, respectively), and the uncertainty of the measurements carried out by this system was evaluated. The system yielded accurate information regarding the time of operation of each fan and hourly ventilation rate, provided that the ventilation rate of each fan was known. Uncertainties in airflow measurement were evaluated using numerical Monte Carlo methods, being on average less than 10% of the measured value. The influence of the sampling frequency of fan status and the measurement of a partial number of fans in the building on the final uncertainty was also quantified. The ventilation rates and uncertainties determined using the developed system are valuable to determine total emissions and temporal emission patterns.

Hematological responses of broiler chickens exposed to simulated crude petroleum emissions

Hematological responses of broiler chicken exposed to simulated crude petroleum emissions at varying distances over a period of 16 h daily were evaluated for 56 days in a poultry house. The burning of crude petroleum was simulated with a specially designed burner. The measured distances were 4, 8, or 12 m from the flame point. Control birds were located in a separate poultry building without the flame treatment. Gaseous emissions from the burning crude oil were monitored. Proprietory broiler starter and finisher diets were fed ad libitum. Blood samples were taken at the fourth and eighth weeks for hematological assay from each treatment. The hematological parameters assayed were hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, and lymphocytes. Results indicated that the treatment did not significantly affect the Hb, PCV, and WBC constituents. Neutrophils significantly decreased while lymphocytes increased. The age of birds significantly increased Hb, PCV, and WBC levels in the blood.

Hormonal responses of broiler chickens to simulated crude petroleum flame and fumes

Hormonal responses of broiler chickens exposed to crude petroleum flame and fumes at varying distances over a period of 16 h daily were evaluated for 56 days in a poultry house. The burning of crude petroleum was simulated in a designed burner. The measured distances were 4, 8, or 12 m from the flame point. The experimental design was a two-factor factorial in a completely randomized design (CRD) with factor A as distance from the crude petroleum flame and factor B was the age of birds in weeks. One hundred and eighty Anak day-old broiler chickens were divided into four groups of 45 birds each, replicated thrice at 15 birds per replicate. Control birds were located in a separate poultry building without the flame treatment. Gaseous emissions from the burning crude oil were monitored. Proprietary broiler starter and finisher diets were fed ad libitum. Blood samples were taken at the fourth and eighth week for hormone radioimmunoassay from each treatment. The hormones assayed were growth hormone (GH), thyroxine (T4,), and adrenaline. Results indicated that treatments did not significantly alter hormonal levels. The age of birds significantly affected the levels of all three hormones measured.