Using spatial modeling to estimate floor area in commercial broiler barns within target brooding and growout light intensity levels

Authors: FALANA, O - Auburn University; LINHOSS, J - Auburn University; DAVIS, J - Auburn University; EDGE, C - Auburn University; LANE, A - Auburn University; RUEDA, M - Auburn University; GRIGGS, K - Auburn University; SMITH, C - Auburn University; CAMPBELL, J - Auburn University; Purswell, Joseph - Jody

Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Light intensity was measured in twenty 60 × 500 ft commercial broiler houses in South Alabama to determine the percentage of floor area within target light intensity values for brooding and tunnel ventilation conditions. Houses ranged in age from new (never used) to old (8 years old), and all had three rows of lights. Target light intensity for brooding was = 43 lux (lx) and 0.2 lx ± 0.02 for tunnel ventilation. Data were collected at 70 locations in a 40 × 60 ft grid in the following three house sections: evaporative pad (pad), center house (center), and tunnel fans (fan). Brooding light intensity data was reported in two target categories: above or below 43 lx in the pad and center sections only. Tunnel ventilation data was reported in three target categories: at, above, or below target values in all house sections. Spatial mapping via universal kriging was used to map light intensity distributions. The mean percent of house floor area (arcsine transformed) within each target level was analyzed as a two-way ANOVA (age and house section) using PROC MIXED in SAS for brooding and tunnel ventilation conditions. Means were separated at P = 0.05 using PDIFF. During brooding, percent of floor area below target (< 43 lx) was significantly higher for older houses than new houses in the pad (old = 99.8%; new = 2.8%) and center sections (old = 99.9%; new = 2.8%). During tunnel ventilation in the new houses, 4.5, 6.0, and 0.0% of the floor area at the pad, center, and fan sections were within the 0.18 – 0.22 lx target. However, in the old houses, only 0.6, 0.7, and 0.0% of the floor area at the pad, center, and fan sections, respectively, were at the target level. All floor area in the fan section was above target due to light intrusion from operating fans. Percent of floor area above the tunnel ventilation target was significantly higher in new houses in both the pad (old = 12.5%; new = 91.3%) and center sections (old = 10.9%; new = 84.7%). This research illustrates that the newer houses did a better job at meeting or exceeding target light intensities and that very little of the floor area in new and old houses during tunnel ventilation was within ±10% of the target. Periodic checking of light intensity is recommended, especially in older houses.

Technical Abstract: Light intensity was measured in twenty 60 × 500 ft commercial broiler houses in South Alabama to determine the percentage of floor area within target light intensity values for brooding and tunnel ventilation conditions. Houses ranged in age from new (never used) to old (8 years old), and all had three rows of lights. Target light intensity for brooding was = 43 lux (lx) and 0.2 lx ± 0.02 for tunnel ventilation. Data were collected at 70 locations in a 40 × 60 ft grid in the following three house sections: evaporative pad (pad), center house (center), and tunnel fans (fan). Brooding light intensity data was reported in two target categories: above or below 43 lx in the pad and center sections only. Tunnel ventilation data was reported in three target categories: at, above, or below target values in all house sections. Spatial mapping via universal kriging was used to map light intensity distributions. The mean percent of house floor area (arcsine transformed) within each target level was analyzed as a two-way ANOVA (age and house section) using PROC MIXED in SAS for brooding and tunnel ventilation conditions. Means were separated at P = 0.05 using PDIFF. During brooding, percent of floor area below target (< 43 lx) was significantly higher for older houses than new houses in the pad (old = 99.8%; new = 2.8%) and center sections (old = 99.9%; new = 2.8%). During tunnel ventilation in the new houses, 4.5, 6.0, and 0.0% of the floor area at the pad, center, and fan sections were within the 0.18 – 0.22 lx target. However, in the old houses, only 0.6, 0.7, and 0.0% of the floor area at the pad, center, and fan sections, respectively, were at the target level. All floor area in the fan section was above target due to light intrusion from operating fans. Percent of floor area above the tunnel ventilation target was significantly higher in new houses in both the pad (old = 12.5%; new = 91.3%) and center sections (old = 10.9%; new = 84.7%). This research illustrates that the newer houses did a better job at meeting or exceeding target light intensities and that very little of the floor area in new and old houses during tunnel ventilation was within ±10% of the target. Periodic checking of light intensity is recommended, especially in older houses.