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Apart from the cost of feed, energy is one of the largest expenses for broiler producers. This guide explores how broiler farms can reduce energy costs while promoting better welfare for the birds.
Due to rising energy prices following the war in Ukraine, farmers are switching from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources. At the same time, there’s an increased focus on ensuring that broilers have comfortable living conditions for their well-being.
Current Energy Usage
When there’s too much moisture, the manure in broiler houses doesn’t dry properly, leading to caked litter and increased ammonia levels. High ammonia can harm both broilers and humans. It can cause respiratory problems and reduce the health and performance of the flock.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial to keep energy usage in check. This involves inspecting ventilation systems, heat exchangers, heaters, and electric motors to ensure they are running smoothly. It’s important to check if fans are working without errors and if wire mesh guards are clean. Proper ventilation helps distribute fresh air throughout the building, preventing cold spots.
Maintenance can often be done during the “service period,” between broiler batches. However, in winter, this period should be brief to avoid cooling the house too much, as reheating it requires significant energy.
Insulating the Poultry House
Proper insulation helps maintain stable temperatures in broiler houses, reducing the need for extra heating or cooling. This involves checking walls, roofs, floors, doors, windows, and air vents for leaks or weak spots. An infrared camera can help identify areas where heat is escaping.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
Switching from older light fixtures to energy-efficient LED technology can save up to 60% on electricity costs. LED lights offer benefits like adjustable brightness, even light distribution, and a wide range of color temperatures.
Using Heat Exchangers
Heat exchangers can significantly reduce heating costs by recovering heat from exhaust air. The warm air is reused to heat the building, reducing energy costs and improving air quality. Heat exchangers also help reduce dust and odors, benefiting both birds and workers.
Computer-Controlled Climate
Modern climate control systems help farmers maintain ideal conditions in broiler houses. These systems can adjust ventilation based on temperature, humidity, and harmful gases like CO2 and ammonia. By optimizing ventilation, farmers can reduce energy use.
Choosing the Right Heating System
For heating, gas-powered hot air blowers are common, but indirect-fired heaters with closed combustion are more energy-efficient. These heaters send harmful gases out through a chimney, reducing the need for additional ventilation.
Alternative Heating Options
Switching to renewable energy sources like hot-water heaters using wood chips or straw pellets is another option. Although these systems have high initial costs, they offer a sustainable and energy-efficient heating solution.
Conclusion
Energy costs are a major concern for broiler farmers, but there are many ways to reduce these costs while improving bird welfare. The best energy-saving measures will depend on the specific setup of each farm. Ultimately, energy-efficient practices lead to healthier broilers and better working conditions for farmers.
