Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Air Velocity Through a Poultry Transport Trailer in a Holding Shed

Broiler production in Arkansas was valued at over $3.6 billion in 2013 (University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service). Consequently, improvement in any phase of the production process can have significant economic impact and animal welfare implications. One area of concern for the poultry industry is thermal stress experienced by the birds after arrival at the processing plant and before they are taken in to be processed, during which time they are left to wait in holding sheds. Various cooling strategies exist to mitigate heat stress in holding sheds, but in most cases it is unlikely that they are optimal. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed using the commercial package ANSYS Fluent to simulate airflow through a poultry trailer in a typical holding shed configuration. The CFD model was compared to experimental data gathered from a poultry processing plant in Northwest Arkansas. The CFD model was able to replicate general trends and relative magnitude of air velocity through the trailer. In addition, three different design alternatives were created to evaluate the usefulness of the model as a tool to improve holding shed cooling strategies. This research showed that CFD could be a potential method to simulate conditions on poultry trailers in holding sheds and test various holding shed cooling strategies. However, it was concluded that a more robust system of validation was necessary to prove the accuracy of CFD for this purpose for most applications

Evaluation of a Prototype Mechanically Ventilated Swine Transport Trailer Fitted with Air Filtration System

In response to industry demand for a livestock vehicle that addresses both enhanced biosecurity and animal welfare during transport, a prototype air-filtered swine trailer was assembled. The prototype featured a swine trailer with two separate compartments: a front compartment that houses generator set, a bank of six air filter sets, ventilation controller, and two axial fans; and, the animal compartment with solid aluminum walls, two decks with hinged upper deck floor and a roof that can be lifted open, and a hydraulic lift gate which also served as the rear door. Two air inlet openings were installed on both sides of the front compartment while exhaust openings were on the side at the rear end of the livestock container. The goals of this current study were to evaluate the performance of the developed prototype trailer, conduct an economic analysis, and subsequently formulate recommendations for further optimization of the trailer design. Thus, in a stationary test, evaluation of the efficiency of the installed air filtration system (MERV 8 panel pre-filter and MERV 16 glass fiber V-bank filter) was carried out with no pigs inside the trailer. Upstream and downstream monitoring of concentrations of aerosolized model virus (bacteriophage Phi X174) yielded an overall filtration efficiency of 96.9%. Moreover, two monitoring trips with market-sized pigs loaded in the trailer showed a general front to rear movement of air as evidenced by increasing trailer temperature, moisture, and CO2 levels from front to rear end of the livestock container. Conditions at the middle to rear portion of the animal compartment were maintained within acceptable thermal limits. However, locations close to the ventilation fans (front end of livestock compartment) experienced low temperatures (<10°C) during portions of the trip. Finally, cost analysis for a hypothetical 120-pig capacity air-filtered trailer yielded an estimated total equipment and installation cost of $109,900 and annual operational and filter maintenance costs of$9,520 and $600, respectively. Assuming an incremental revenue of$5 per head for biosecure pigs transported in an air-filtered trailer led to an estimated payback period of about 2.41 years for the trailer

Environmental quality and animal welfare implications of commercial livestock transportation to slaughter facilities in North America: a review

Master of ScienceDepartment of Biological & Agricultural EngineeringRonaldo G. MaghirangThere are several stressful events throughout an animal’s lifetime, but transportation is considered one of the most detrimental events to animal welfare by many professionals, regardless of species. Transportation consists of several different interacting and compounding factors that can affect animal welfare and meat product quality. The purpose of this report is to review current industry practices of land transport of different livestock types to slaughter facilities, primarily within the United States and Canada. This review evaluated species-specific transport practices and subsequent effects on animal welfare and carcass quality for both animal welfare and economic outlooks. Regulations are placed on the driver and time limits that the animals are allowed to be in transit. Trailer style use partially depends on the age and species of animal that is being hauled. Cattle are more likely to be hauled in pot belly trailers, while pigs are often transported in either pot belly or straight deck trailers. Poultry trailer type directly depends on the age of the birds being transported. Enclosed trailers are more often used in the European Union but are slowly making an impression on United States and Canadian markets. Cattle are transported several times in their lives with each trip varying in duration, loading density, and other environment altering factors. Each time the animals are transported there is the risk of low air flow, heat, or cold stress that can reduce animal welfare. Loading density has been broken down to equations, duration is limited by hours in trailer and location, and changes in physiology and behavior further exacerbate cattle transport stress. Pigs are transported fewer times than cattle, but thousands of pigs die during this process each year. Market weight pig mortality predictability increases with increasing temperature-humidity index and also increasing loading densities, with a specific equation to quantify this correlation. Shrink is another factor that can be linearly derived as transport time increases in swine. Fatigued Pig Syndrome is welfare issues that can impact the meat product resulting in pale, soft, and exudative pork. Poultry are usually only shipped once or twice and require special trailers and equipment. Shipping crates or modular drawers are used for grown birds where the birds are loaded into these containers, and then placed on a poultry trailer. Poultry have a very narrow comfort window of 21°C to 24°C, making transport difficult and detrimental to their welfare. Loading density is based on type and size of shipping container; however, regardless of loading density, the likelihood of bird death increases drastically as duration increases

Farm Animal Transport

Most of the 70 billion animals that are farmed in the world are transported at least once in their lives. For improved animal welfare, sustainability, and profitability it is important that everyone involved in the transportation process takes responsibility for doing a good job. This may require legislation and assurance schemes backed up by inspections and driven by consumer awareness and demand. All aspects of the transportation process, including preparation for transport, handling during loading and unloading, handler and driver training, stocking density on the transport container, journey length, and weather have an effect on animal welfare, meat quality, health after transport, and even mortality during transit. These topics are covered in the papers and reviews in this book together with related aspects such as consumer perceptions of animal transport, cleaning of transport coops, and consideration of on-farm slaughter to obviate the need for transport to an abattoir. The book adds to the knowledge of farm animal transport and highlights areas for future research and improved practice

Investigation into an alternative approach of environmental control to enhance sensible heat transfer from broiler chickens during hot weather periods

Climatic conditions within the broiler building play an important role in the performances, health and welfare of broiler chickens. During hot weather periods, farmers in the temperate climates usually open all inlets onthe sidewall andoperate all the fans in theroof of thebroiler building to allow maximum airflow to relieve broilers of heat stress. However, the effects of this practice on the air velocity distribution in the broiler occupied zones of such type of building are not well documented. Therefore, this research work was set up to (1) investigate the impact of wide opened inlet on the airflow characteristics in the broiler occupied zones of an experimental broiler building at Harper Adams University, UK; (2) develop and evaluate the performance of a hot weather ventilation system, incorporatingan oscillation baffle, for broiler buildings; (3) examine the impact of the ventilation system on the airflow characteristics in the broiler occupied zones and the sensible heat transfer from broiler model. The results of the study indicated that the act of fully opening the inlets of broiler building during hot weather seasons did not improve the airflow in the broiler occupied zones at all measurement locations, including the sidewall area of the building. However, with the development of the hot weatherventilation system with oscillation baffle, operating at different fanfrequencies, baffle oscillation angles and baffle oscillation frequencies, there was a significant improvement in the average air velocity in the broiler occupied zones. At higher inlet turbulence, there was an increase in the sensible heat transfer from broilersin the sidewall area of the broiler building. This indicates that oscillation of inlet baffle instead of keeping it wide opened during the hot weather periods could direct moreairflow into the broiler occupied zones and relieve broiler chickens of heat stress

Scientific Opinion Concerning the Welfare of Animals during Transport

The Scientific Opinion on the welfare of animals during transport reviewed the most recent scientific information concerning the main farm species. New scientific evidence and consequent conclusions and recommendations were arranged following the structure of Annex I of EC Regulation 1/2005 . On fitness for transport, recommendations for cattle and poultry were focused on repeated humane handling and careful inspection prior to transport. On the means of transport, use of partitions in horse transport, compulsory fasting of pigs with provision of water at stops, and temperature limits for poultry were major recommendations. Maintaining stability of animal groups was recommended as good practice, with special emphasis on the need to avoid mixing unfamiliar pigs or goats. On watering and feeding intervals, journey times and resting periods, journey duration should not exceed 12 hours for horses and 29 hours for cattle. Horses should be supplied with water one hour before and one hour after transport, and for cattle there should be a 24 hour recovery period with access to food and water. For rabbits, time spent inside the containers during lairage should be considered journey time. Space allowance for horses should be given in terms of kg/m2 instead of m2/animal. For cattle and sheep, it is recommended that space allowances should be calculated according to an allometric equation relating size to body weight. Limits for stocking densities of broilers in containers should be related to thermal conditions. On the navigation systems, temperature monitoring systems should be incorporated. Minimum standards should be established regarding data type to be recorded, the system and the on‐board architecture. Recommendations for further research focused on the thermal limits and regulation for poultry and rabbits, the effects of ventilation on pigs, space allowance for rabbits, newly hatched chicks and pigs, optimal journey times for horses, pigs and calves

14th CIRIAF National Congress – Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development

CIRIAF (Inter-University Research Center on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” is a research center, based at the University of Perugia, which promotes interdisciplinary research activities in the fields of environmental pollution and its health and socio-economic effects, sustainable development, renewable and alternative energy, energy planning, and sustainable mobility. One hundred professors from fourteen different Italian universities are involved in the activities of the center. The CIRIAF National Congress (e.g., the fourteenth one in 2014), has become, over time, an important event for researchers and experts (engineers, physicists, chemists, architects, doctors, and economists). These individuals are not simply academics; they also hail from ministries, environmental agencies, and local authorities. The annual meeting in Perugia is an opportunity to discuss the issues related to energy, environment and sustainable development. After some editions were devoted to panel discussions and workshops, the 14th Congress, which took place in Perugia from 4-5 April 2014, returned to the formula of parallel technical sessions. The Congress was quite successful. Seventy-nine papers were presented during the Congress; these were divided into the following eight Sessions, in line with the congress tradition. The session topics are of great contemporary interest: Built Environment Quality and Indoor Pollution Energy and Environmental Certification of Buildings Artworks Preservation and Museum Plants Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources and Systems Pollution from Physical Agents (noise, vibrations, electromagnetic fields) Air and Water Pollution Sustainable Mobility Energy Planning and Environmental Impact As usual, the ceremony of the “Mauro Felli” award took place during the Congress. The award, established to honor the memory of the founder and first Director of CIRIAF, is intended for young graduates, Ph.D. students or researchers who have carried out research activities in the fields concerning pollution originating from physical agents, the effects of environmental pollution on humans or related issues. Thanks to an agreement with the international publishing house MDPI, I am happy to introduce to you a special issue of SUSTAINABILITY, which contains the best papers presented at the Congress. The Special Issue will include the best papers presented at the Congress. These were selected by the Scientific Committee with the help of the various Chairmen of the Sessions. The papers cover all the various aspects of sustainability, from an interdisciplinary point of view, with a strong emphasis on the link between energy production, use and conservation, and environmental impact

Aerodynamic shape optimisation of conceptual over-body designs for heavy goods vehicles

Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are extensively used in the UK transport sector, and an ever-increasing volume of traffic on the roads has led to an increase in total fuel consumption. Over the years, different strategies have been employed in the design of HGVs including shape changes or use of add-on devices at various positions. More recently, a popular option has been to change the traditional rectangular longitudinal sectional shape of typical HGVs and to modify the over-body shape with curvature. However, there is no clear guidance on how to do this effectively and the variety of approaches seen on the roads suggests that there are no universally accepted design rules. Furthermore, most aerodynamics studies in the literature focus primarily on minimising drag; far too little attention has been paid to enhance stability, handling and safety operation due to shape changes, especially due to side winds or gusts. The purpose of this work is to address these issues using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with aerodynamic shape optimisation. A simplified generic HGV, the Ground Transportation System (GTS), is investigated in this thesis because it closely resembles a typical European HGV and there is an abundance of high-quality experimental data available. A rigorous verification and validation study using the commercial CFD package, ANSYS Fluent, found agreement to within 15% between experiments and the numerical results. Following this, an aerodynamic shape optimisation study was formulated. The shape of the over-body profile was parameterised using a 3rd order polynomial with three design variables determining the shape of the vehicle, namely, the height of the base region, the angle of the trailing edge of the roof and the radius of curvature of the longitudinal roof edges. Using a 125-point Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, high-fidelity CFD simulations were carried out for yaw angles of 0 ͦ, 5 ͦ, 6 ͦ and 8 ͦ. These angles were determined from analysis of a typical Leeds-London-Leeds motorway journey. Moving Least Squares (MLS) metamodels were used in conjunction with Genetic Algorithms (GAs) and gradient-based techniques to identify optimum HGV designs. Results show that a minimum-drag design can accomplish drag reduction of around 40% compared to a baseline (rectangular) vehicle, however, weathercock stability is 11% poorer at a slip angle of 5 ͦ increasing to 35%, at 8 ͦ. The best stability design was found to achieve a 33% drag improvement, compared to the baseline and weathercock stability is between 8% and 25% worse, for 5 ͦ and 8 ͦ of yaw, respectively. However, the reduction in weathercock stability, compared to the baseline design, naturally leads to better directional stability and road holding capability. The height of the base of the vehicle is the dominant design parameter with small values leading to improved drag but large values inducing greater weathercock stability due to increased rear side area. From this, design guidelines are proposed