A dynamic model for naturally ventilated Low cost poultry houses.
Date
2007-10-22
Authors
Lusambo, Edward
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
Ventilation as a method of controlling the internal environment in poultry houses serves two main purposes.
It provides the desirable levels of temperature and humidity to achieve good poultry performance and it also
provides a desired amount of fresh air, without drafts, to all parts of the building. Ventilation also controls
ammonia levels to limits appropriate for operating personnel. This paper discusses a simulation model
developed to study the dynamic changes of the internal thermal environment in low cost poultry houses in
Zambia. The model is based on the interaction of various internal, external and building construction related
parameters. The model can be used to predict the temperature in a naturally ventilated poultry house for a
given set of input parameters. Furthermore, it can calculate the heating or cooling load required to keep the
temperature at desired levels for the birds. It can also be used to study the effects of changing various
parameters on the internal thermal environment. The model was validated using data obtained from an
open-sided naturally ventilated poultry house housing birds at an average age of 8 weeks. The model was
able to predict the internal temperature closely to the measured values.
Keywords: Natural ventilation, Dynamic modelling, Poultry houses
Description
Keywords
Poultry houses