Computational thermometry: assessment of thermal distribution inside day-old-chicks transport boxes in a climatized lorry

• Grant number: 10/11834-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Rural Buildings and Ambience
• Principal Investigator: Késia Oliveira da Silva Miranda
• Grantee: Késia Oliveira da Silva Miranda
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Iran José Oliveira da Silva

Abstract

Assessment of thermal distribution inside day-old-chicks transport boxes in a climatized lorryThe livestock transport logistics is little known in Brazil. Although several works with animal welfare and environment are related with the "in farm" segment, some recent works have being developed in the "after farm" area and the post-hatching operations of day-old chicks have lacks of information, increasing the losses in the Brazilian poultry industry. During the day-old chicken transport, a little standardization concerning the best conditions is observed, mainly about the thermal comfort. A thermal heterogeneity is observed inside the climatized container of climatized trucks. Despite of programming through a control panel inside the truck, it is observed in the daily practice of the industry that the temperature and relative humidity inside the climatized container may vary by several degrees, enhancing the chances of thermal stress during the travel. A significant number of researches are observed related with the best thermal conditions during the first days of day-old chicks housed in poultry facilities. However, the scientific information related with day-old transport is scarce, difficult the standardization and recommendation of proceedings in this important phase of poultry production. Thus, the aim of this propose is to assess the microclimate inside the climatized lorry and the transport boxes of day-old-chickens, making possible to identify possible heat cores inside the lorry. (AU)