Effect of an in-shed sprinkler cooling system on temperature, relative humidity, water usage, litter conditions, live weight and mortality

This report describes the first Australian trial of a low-pressure, overhead sprinkler system that reduces the need for conventional evaporative cooling pads or high pressure foggers in meat chicken houses

Review of fan efficiency for meat chicken sheds

This report is all about ventilation fans (exhaust fans) used on tunnel ventilated meat chicken sheds. The report has two themes: reviewing the performance and efficiency of new fans currently available in Australia; and identifying methods to assess fans and help to identify fans that are underperforming

‘How to’ guide for measuring fan performance and efficiency in meat chicken sheds

This ‘how to’ guide provides readers with method to measure fan performance and energy efficiency of fans installed in meat chicken sheds. These methods are also useful for identifying fans that are under-performing or require maintenance. For more information about fan energy efficiency, a complementary report is available on the RIRDC website ‘Review of fan efficiency in meat chicken sheds’ (RIRDC Publication No. 15/018). A spreadsheet was also developed under this project for comparing and ranking fans against others in terms of energy efficiency, air flow and costs (‘Tunnel Ventilation Fan Comparison Spreadsheet’), and is available on the RIRDC website

Direct surface wetting sprinkler system to reduce the use of evaporative cooling-pads in meat chicken production: indoor thermal environment, water usage, litter moisture content, live market weights and mortalities

An overhead sprinkler system that directly applies water onto meat chickens in tunnel ventilated houses was evaluated and compared to a conventional evaporative cooling-pad system at two commercial farms in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. The sprinkler system was used to reduce the use of evaporative cooling-pads as the primary cooling system, but not replace evaporative cooling-pads altogether. The sprinkler system used low water pressure and was comprised of evenly spaced sprinklers and a programmable controller. Water was applied intermittently based on house temperature and a temperature program that was related to bird age. The study was conducted over six sequential grow-outs during a one year period. Air temperature, relative humidity, litter moisture content, cooling water usage, live market weight and mortality were assessed during the study. The effect of sprinklers on these measured parameters was complicated by interactions with farm, batch, bird-age and time-of-day. We found that, in general, houses with combined sprinkler and evaporative cooling-pad systems used less water, while having similar litter moisture content, live market weight and mortality compared with control houses that were fitted with conventional evaporative cooling-pads. When evaporative cooling was required, sprinkler houses had warmer air temperature but lower relative humidity than the control houses. Bird comfort due to the direct cooling effect of water evaporating off the birds was not directly assessed during this study, but was inferred from thermal camera images and from live weight and mortality data. This was the first study in Australia involving this sprinkler system, and we suggest that the sprinkler system design and operation may require some adaptation to better suit Australian poultry house design and climatic conditions, including the need for additional sprinklers to improve coverage, lower set-point temperatures, and altering sprinkler spacing to suit ceiling baffle curtains (if fitted)

‘How to’ guide for measuring fan performance and efficiency in meat chicken sheds

This ‘how to’ guide provides readers with method to measure fan performance and energy efficiency of fans installed in meat chicken sheds. These methods are also useful for identifying fans that are under-performing or require maintenance. For more information about fan energy efficiency, a complementary report is available on the RIRDC website ‘Review of fan efficiency in meat chicken sheds’ (RIRDC Publication No. 15/018). A spreadsheet was also developed under this project for comparing and ranking fans against others in terms of energy efficiency, air flow and costs (‘Tunnel Ventilation Fan Comparison Spreadsheet’), and is available on the RIRDC website

Summarised findings from Australian poultry odour research (2005–2018)

D&E related to odour is integral to addressing community concerns, reducing the potential for odour impacts and supporting sustainable growth of the chicken meat industry. By necessity, the industry is typically established on the urban fringe, which increases the potential for amenity impacts. Odour RD&E has involved several research teams, including government agencies, universities, and consultancy businesses. The industry must now undertake the important tasks of broadly reviewing the overall knowledge that has been developed to date, taking stock of the achievements and challenges, and planning the path forward to address emerging and unresolved issues. This project summarises the odour-related RD&E that has been supported by the Australian chicken meat industry (through AgriFutures Australia or the Poultry CRC) since 2005. It was funded by industry revenue, the Australian Government, and the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Review of litter turning during a grow-out as a litter management practice to achieve dry and friable litter in poultry production

Maintaining dry litter that chickens can ‘work’ is a key objective for successful meat chicken production as it reduces the likelihood of health and welfare issues by breaking down and working excreta and contributing to the water evaporation process. Litter turning is a practice that may help reduce moisture content within the litter by accelerating the drying process when it is combined with effective ventilation. However, information and research about the practice and the effects it could have on the health and wellbeing of meat chickens (broilers) is minimal. A recent survey of Australian meat chicken growers reiterated the concerns they have about its impact on chicken wellbeing, but it also demonstrated how growers thought it could enhance the effectiveness of their operation. The aim of this review paper is to identity information relevant to litter turning and the potential effects of this practice on litter quality, ammonia emissions, litter moisture and animal welfare. This review demonstrates the need for additional research to validate perceptions and address potential concerns and impacts that this practice may have on broiler production. Closing this knowledge gap will improve litter turning practices leading to safer and more consistent outcomes

Best practice litter management manual for Australian meat chicken farms : Covering fresh, in-shed, reuse and spent litter management

Litter is most likely one of the largest operational investments on meat chicken farms. Litter management can affect meat chicken health, human health, odour and dust. Despite the issue being important for all industry participants, there hasn’t been a single point where information has been brought together and maintained in an up-to-date format. While the industry has done a large amount of work in this area, the results are documented in a variety of reports, scientific papers and guides, without there being one document that synthesises this information and makes it applicable and relevant to the various industry participants. This Best practice litter management manual for Australian meat chicken farms collects this knowledge in one place. The manual covers: litter selection; management of litter in sheds, including reuse; and options and use of spent litter following removal from sheds. It has been structured so that users can access concise information and guidance on the best management practice for each process involving litter

Quantifying poultry litter conditions and relationships with odour emissions

Litter conditions are managed during poultry rearing to provide a comfortable environment for the chickens and reduce the potential of odour impact on surrounding communities. This study aimed to identify and quantify the properties of poultry litter in Australian meat chicken sheds that influence odour formation and emissions. Litter conditions were evaluated in terms of litter moisture content, pH, water activity and oxygen concentration. Litter samples collected from meat chicken sheds during the eight week grow-out period showed that litter conditions varied spatially, within the litter profile, during the grow-out and between grow-outs. Litter conditions were measured at discrete positions across the litter and within the profile to describe the full range, rather than measuring average conditions.Water affects many of the chemical, physical and microbial properties of litter and yet research revealed a lack of knowledge in terms of the water balance within meat chicken sheds and litter properties, especially moisture content, water holding capacity and water activity. An equation combining theoretical and empirical inputs was developed to estimate the water addition to litter during a grow-out. This was combined with experimental measurements of water holding capacity and evaporation rate to identify periods of the grow-out when litter conditions were at risk of deteriorating. Addition of manure during a grow-out was found to increase the water holding capacity of litter and reduced water activity, which is a measure of the availability of water within litter that affects friability and microbial growth.Odorant emission rates were measured for different litter conditions in meat chicken sheds and during a laboratory based study where meat chickens were reared in a pen with a litter floor. Emission rates of volatile organic compounds and sulfur compounds (VOC and VSC) from the litter surface were measured using flux hoods and analysed by a combination of TD-GC-MS, TD-GC-SCD and PTR-TofMS methods. Emission rates of some odorants were found to be significantly affected by litter conditions (when litter was characterised as ‘wet’ or ‘dry’) and the length of the grow-out. Odour activity values indicated which individual odorants made the biggest contribution to wet and dry litter odours