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Reducing Mixing Fan Thermostat Setpoints in Naturally Ventilated Broiler Housing During Hot Weather

North Carolina State University, Dept. of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Box 7625, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625; Phone: (919) 515-6753; FAX: (919) 515-7760

Phillip S. Bisesi

N. C. Alternative Energy Corporation, P. O. Box 12699, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

John Brake and Samuel L. Pardue

North Carolina State University, Dept. of Poultry Science, Box 7608, Raleigh, NC 27695-7608

Alvin M. Etheredge

Duke Power Co. , 523 N. Main Street, Salisbury, NC 28144

Correspondence: Robert W. Bottcher

Performance of poultry during hot weather has been improved by reducing the air temperature and increasing air movement over the birds during the coolest portion of a diurnal cycle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of increasing the use of mixing fans at night during hot weather in naturally ventilated houses on four broiler farms. Mixing fan thermostats wee set according to the standard policy of the cooperating company in the control houses and 5 or 10°F lower in the test houses. When thermostat settings were reduced by 10°F for summer flocks in 1991 and 1992, several results appeared: average weight gain was 0.02 to 0.18 lbs greater, feed conversion ratio was 0.01 to 0.04lb/lb lower, and mortality was 0.2 to 1.2% lower in the test houses than in the control houses. Based on electricity and production costs, the net benefit to the grower varied from $25 to $275 per house for these summer flocks. For flocks that extended into the fall of 1992, there was little effect on feed conversion or livability, so the growers experienced net losses averaging $96 per house.

Key Words: Broilers • mixing fans • natural ventilation • thermostats

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