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Identifying Safe Environmental Parameters in Some Selected Confined Poultry Housing Systems

M. Z. Abedin
Professor
Department of Farm Structure, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

A. Siddika
Postgraduate student
Department of Farm Structure, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

M. Z. Rahman
Associate Professor
Department of Farm Structure, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to identify the environmental parameters of confined poultry housing systems for safe remedial measures at farmers' level under four selected districts in Bangladesh. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 42 selected poultry farms of the districts through a pre-tested interview schedule for identifying safe environmental parameters from engineering viewpoints. On the basis of birds, 45.24%, 33.33% and 21.43% of farms were small, medium and large respectively. The sites, insulating materials, lighting, cooling, ventilation, water supply, litter disposal and management systems of the categorical farms were not ideal both from economic and environment-friendly poultry production for erected mostly alongside the road dispersedly located around the homestead. In summer, the temperature of the sites varied from 28-34^oC during day-time and 25-30⁰C at night, while in winter, the temperatures were 12-20⁰C during day-time. In rains, the humidity was 50-95% but in winter it was 55-68%. High humidity resulted in wet litter and increased disease prevalence. All small farms were using natural ventilation system together with ceiling fans and majority of farm- owners used derelict pond for wastewater and dumping for dead body disposal. Poultry litters used as organic fertilizer, fuel and a few were kept in open yard for bio-degradation. Cleaning agents and disinfectants were found to use in small farms. Only few large farms used chemical agent for fly and pest control. About 60% farm owners used tin-shed with bricks at the end walls, 24% tin-shed with tin and 16% concrete roofing with bricks at end walls. The roof shapes of tin- shed poultry house. were mostly gable types with some offset gables. About 50% farm owners used jute and splitted-bamboo mats and 29% jute-mat or sac as ceiling materials and 21% did not use any ceiling materials.

Keywords: Poultry production, Poultry housing systems,

Location: Gazipur, Mymensingh, Netrokona and Jamalpur

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Poultry

Objectives:

To identify the environmental factors affecting the poultry production in confined poultry housing systems and its safe remedial measures at farmers' level in some selected areas.

Methodology:

A large number of poultry farms have been established in the selected study areas within the last few years. Irrespective of the type of poultry reared, the farms were categorized as small, medium and large. The farms with upto 2000 birds were considered as small, 2000-5000 birds were considered as medium and over 5000 birds were considered as large. (i) Types and categories of shed: Different categories of shed and roof shapes were found in the study areas, like tin-shed with corrugated iron (Cl) sheets as walling material, tin-shed with brick wall and concrete roofing of single/multi-storied buildings. Data were recorded on categories and types of shed. (ii) Temperature and humidity: The reading for temperature and humidity were taken respectively from thermometers and hygrometers placed in the poultry houses. The average values of three 'readings were recorded to get the representative value. (iii) Lighting: Lighting is very important for egg production and growth of poultry as it can influence behaviour, metabolic rate, physical activity and physiological factors involving the reproductive system and all these are affected by the day length, light intensity and wavelength of light. Most of the farms had both natural and artificial lighting systems and data were collected considering sun light, tube light, electric bulb, florescent bulb, etc. (iv) Odour: Intensity of odour indicates that how well the whole system is organized and properly handled. The intensity of ammonia and any bad odour were evaluated on the basis of smell and ranked in two different categories such as trace or detected with smell and high intensity odour detected with eye burn. (v) Water supply and its quality: Water supply source and water quality are the major concern for good performance of poultry and profitable farming. Data on water supply and quality were taken considering the source of water such as tube-well, supply tape, etc. (vi) Disease prevention: There are different sources that can introduce diseases into a farm or spread infections within or between farms and, therefore, disease prevention system of a poultry farm is one of the most important considerations to maintain bio-security. Data were collected considering the use of vaccination system such as water vaccination and direct vaccination, use of cleaning agent and disinfectants, control of fly and pests, etc. (vii) Insulation and ceiling materials : Insulation is essential to protect the birds from excessive heat produced inside the poultry sheds. Splitted-bamboo mat is a popular insulating material being used beneath the roof of CI sheets. Data were recorded through visual observance and interviewing with farmers. (viii) Caging/bedding materials: Generally bedding materials such as saw dust and rice husk are used for broiler farms and galvanized iron (GI) sheets caging are used for layer. Data were collected through visual observance and interviewing with farmers. (ix) Air movement and ventilation: Ventilation is used to remove moisture, unwanted gases like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, disease organisms, dust and excessive heat. Adequate ventilation rates remove heat or moisture, and the organisms and the gases usually get well diluted causing congenial poultry environment. But it depends on the types of waste handling system and on how frequently cleaned the house and emptied the manure storage units.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Engineering, pp: 11-24, Vol: 21 (1&2), 2010, ISSN 1015-4426

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From this study the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. Most of the poultry farms in selected areas were small in respect of number of birds reared and were haphazardly erected beside the roads. 2. Most of the farms did not follow the standard dimensions and proper orientation of an ideal poultry sheds and were not designed by any specialist rather constructed by mason according to the demand of farm owner. 3. Except few large and medium farms, most of the poultry farms do not have or use safe environmental facilities like proper disposal and management systems of litters, control of fly, pest and rodents, control of heat-stress and humidity, and watering systems. 4. Except a few large farms, most of the farms do not have controlled ventilation and cooling systems. The farms mostly depend on natural ventilation which is inefficient for peak hot and peak cold weather, and the production thus falls drastically. 5. Locally available and 'producible ceiling materials for resisting heat radiation were found suitable compared to other materials in respect of benefit-cost margin. 6. The poultry farmers showed their keen interest for pre-fabricated elements of environmentally safe poultry houses so that they could buy the elements from the market, assemble together to build the poultry houses in the form of a package deal depending on their demands and budgets. This would allow the farmers to plan for constructing poultry houses shortly without incurring high initial investments for erecting any permanent structure with the proviso that the occupied lands be replaced for other future important usages.

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