Nocturnal thermal comfort in facilities for growing swines

Abstract

ABSTRACT:In most of Brazilian pig farms, the environmental acclimatization systems run manually. For night and early morning periods, this practice isn't appropriate, because, in general, there are not employees available to run these manual systems. This research aimed to compare the bioclimatic profile of two differently constructed facilities to the external environment, considering the period from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the spring, in order to show that night and early morning temperatures do not coincides with growing pig's thermoneutral zone. For this reason, acclimatization must be also carried out at these periods. It was analyzed the dry bulb temperature, relative air humidity, temperature-humidity index (THI) and enthalpy data of the sheds and external areas. Under the studied conditions, it was possible to conclude that the constructively appropriate shed appeared to be less influenced by the external environment, allowing better thermal control for growing pigs. Further research must be conducted to verify if automatic cooling systems is needed during night and early morning.KEYWORDS: thermal environment, animal welfare, pig farming, acclimatization system. CONFORTO TÉRMICO NOTURNO EM INSTALAÇÕES PARA SUÍNOS EM CRESCIMENTORESUMO: Em grande parte das granjas de suínos no Brasil, os sistemas para climatização do ambiente funcionam com acionamento manual. Para os períodos matutino e noturno, esta prática não é adequada, uma vez que, nestes períodos, em geral, não há funcionários disponíveis para o acionamento destes sistemas. Por meio deste trabalho, objetivou-se comparar o perfil bioclimático de duas instalações construtivamente diferentes entre si e com o ambiente externo, considerando o período de 18 às 6h, durante a primavera, a fim de verificar que as condições de conforto térmico da noite e da madrugada podem apresentar-se fora do desejado para suínos em crescimento, e que, por esta razão, a climatização deve ser realizada também nestes períodos. Foram analisados a temperatura de bulbo seco, a umidade relativa do ar, o Índice de Temperatura e Umidade e a entalpia nos galpões e no ambiente externo às instalações. Nas condições estudadas, foi possível concluir que o galpão construtivamente adequado estudado mostrou ser menos influenciado pelo ambiente externo, propiciando conforto térmico mais adequado para os suínos em crescimento. Mais estudos devem ser realizados para que se verifique a necessidade de acionamento automático de equipamentos de climatização durante a noite e a madrugada.

Sows and Piglets Thermal Comfort: A Comparative Study of the Tiles Used in the Farrowing Housing

“…The THI with the fiber-cement tiles was higher (1.0) than that of the clay tile. The result is in agreement with SARUBBI et al (2012), who found an increase on THI of 3.0 in pigs reared under building using the roof of fiber-cement tiles, compared to clay tile during spring. In the present study, the variation of the Ta from clay tile was 3.0 °C and RH 9.5%.…”

“…Following the recommendation in this past study by BARBARI & CONTI (2009), sows and piglets are thermally uncomfortable in both rooms (clay and fiber-cement tiles), and this condition is critical to pig production. THI values for pigs were estimated during spring in an environment with clay (73 ± 4.0) and fiber-cement tiles (76 ± 4.0) (SARUBBI et al, 2012). In the present research, just pigs reared in pens with clay tile were in thermal comfort.…”

Use of interactive performance optimization for identifying the ideal profile of swine finishing producers

“…For structural issues it was observed that the leaked floor has an advantage over the massive one of 1.70%, and the roof with cement tile type took advantage of 3.60% over the clay tile although most of the nationwide, almost entirely, the clay tile has advantages to fiber cement ("asbestos") due to the physical characteristics of the products (thermal conductivity, thermal delay and damping) (ABCS, 2011;SARUBBI, 2012).The isolation was a favorable trend for producers using bio-security facilities accessed by a building containing office, dressing room, and pharmacy, in attention to the rules that prevent access and movement of people and vehicles to the farm according to the recommended by EMBRAPA (2003).…”

Integrated multivariate analysis to evaluate effects of pre-slaughter handling on pork quality

“…Despite the fact that ambience presents little contribution to total sample variation by PCA, it directly influences the animal thermal comfort, especially in Mato Grosso do Sul State, which is located in the Cerrado where climate is predominantly hot and dry. Swine welfare is influenced by climatic conditions that, at certain times of the year, exceed the limits of animal comfort (SARUBBI et al, 2012).…”