Heat stress alleviation for dairy cows housed in an open-sided barn by cooling fan and perforated air ducting (PAD) system

Authors

  • Xie Lina 1. Department of Agricultural Structure and Bioenvironmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; 3. Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, Beijing 100083, China
  • Wang Chaoyuan China Agricultural University
  • Ding Luyu 1. Department of Agricultural Structure and Bioenvironmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Gui Zhiyuan 1. Department of Agricultural Structure and Bioenvironmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Zhang Lu 1. Department of Agricultural Structure and Bioenvironmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Shi Zhengxiang 1. Department of Agricultural Structure and Bioenvironmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Li Baoming 1. Department of Agricultural Structure and Bioenvironmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Jia Chuntao Hailin Dairy Farm, Shigezhuang Town 301718, Tianjin, China

Keywords:

dairy cow, heat stress, perforated air duct, cooling fan, naturally-ventilated barn

Abstract

Curtain-sided barns with circulation fans above stall are commonly used to house dairy cows in China. Many farms equipped with circulation fans are unable to provide appropriate cooling, especially for the naturally ventilated shed, which can result in decreasing feed intake and milk production. For alleviating heat stress and improving animal comfort, a system consisting of an air cooler and a 30 m perforated air duct (PAD) was integrated to evenly distribute cooling air. The air was cooled by underground water and delivered to targeted zones above stall bed. The system was evaluated in an open sided dairy barn in Tianjin, China. For the stalls equipped with PAD system, air velocity reached above 1.1 m/s at 0.5 m height plane of the stall space, and was more uniformly distributed. Compared to the stalls equipped with circulation fans, the PAD system lowered air temperature by 1.5°C, and increased relative humidity by 8.1%. On average, Temperature Humidity Index (THI) and Equivalent Temperature Index (ETI) were decreased by 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. After a 15 days’ operation of the system, rectal temperatures of the treated dairy cows were significantly lowered. The results also showed that the cows under PADs had a higher milk production. These findings suggest the PAD can be an effective cooling alternative for naturally ventilated dairy barns to alleviate heat stress. Keywords: dairy cow, heat stress, perforated air duct, cooling fan, naturally-ventilated barn DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20171006.3135 Citation: Xie L N, Wang C Y, Ding L Y, Gui Z Y, Zhang L, Shi Z X, et al. Heat stress alleviation for dairy cows housed in an open-sided barn by cooling fan and perforated air ducting (PAD) system. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2017; 10(6): 1–10.

Author Biography

Wang Chaoyuan, China Agricultural University

An Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Structure and Bioenvironmental Engineering, China Agricultural University, in the area of animal environment and welfare with a focus on air quality and emission, as well as thermal environment control

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Published

2017-11-30

How to Cite

Lina, X., Chaoyuan, W., Luyu, D., Zhiyuan, G., Lu, Z., Zhengxiang, S., … Chuntao, J. (2017). Heat stress alleviation for dairy cows housed in an open-sided barn by cooling fan and perforated air ducting (PAD) system. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 10(6), 1–10. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/3135

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 6 (2017): IJABE

Section

Animal, Plant and Facility Systems

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