The effects of air velocity on the performance parameters of broiler farms in Tonekabon township

Document Type : Other

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran

2 Tehran province Agriculture & Natural Resources Research Center, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Increasing the air velocity is an effective technique for birds cooling in humid climates. In the current study, air velocity in broiler houses and the relationship between indoor air velocity and performance parameters of Tonekabon broiler farms were evaluated. Data were obtained from broiler farms in summer time. A total of 27 farms were visited and interviewed. Broiler houses air velocity, temperature and relative humidity were measured and at the end of the rearing period, performance parameters were recorded. The results showed that air velocity varied between 0.7 and 1.8 m/s (average 1.3 m/s) and in all houses air velocity was lower than 2 m/s. There were negative and significant correlation between house air velocity with feed conversion ratio (P<0.001), temperature index (P<0.01), average feed intake (P<0.01) and mortality (P<0.05). It is concluded that proper ventilation system application and retrofitting current ventilation system will increase broiler farms performance and efficiency.

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