Cool chooks
AgriFutures Australia has released a publication by Mark Dunlop that 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.
Evaporative cooling in the grow-out sheds is used to cool the birds during warm weather but uses a lot of water and also increases the relative humidity in the shed. In contrast, in-shed sprinkler systems intermittently apply relatively small quantities of water directly onto the birds at regular intervals, which keeps the bird cool while using much less water — 56% less over a one-year period.
The publication, Effect of an in-shed sprinkler cooling system on temperature, relative humidity, water usage, litter conditions, live weight and mortality, is available for purchase or download on the AgriFutures Australia website.
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