Improving broiler lifestyle: a CFD approach

Abstract

Climate change poses environmental risks which can negatively affect livestock production. To circumvent this, it is possible to move livestock into environmentally controlled animal housings. In South Africa, this is practiced in the broiler industry. To be economically viable, it is required to build energy and cost effective housing while not compromising the health of the broilers. A broiler’s physiology is sensitive to the environment it resides in and slight fluctuations can have detrimental effects and can negatively influence the growth or health of the broiler. These houses make use of different combinations of heaters, fans and inlets to warm, cool and ventilate the house. This needs to happen within very specific parameters or it can decrease broiler performance. We investigate how the equipment is used in current broiler houses and conclude that although this is a complex model to replicate and solve, computational fluid dynamics can assist in broiler house design.