Studies on the Thermal Radiation Environment within Livestock Barns (V)

Evaluation of Thermal Radiant Environment Based on Respiration Rate of Fattening Pigs

Abstract

In order to evaluate the thermal environment in open-type livestock barns by physiological responses of animals, the authors measured the response of respiration rate to thermal environment for two hogs (25-41kg.) (Table 1).
The effect of mean radiant temperature on respiration rate was revealed to be almost the same as one of dry-bulb temperature by correlation and multiple regression analyses (Table 2-5).
A single numerical index, “Environmental Evaluation-Temperature (EET)”, based on respiration rate was obtained (EET=(0.6-0.7) T_d+(0.3-0.2) T_w+0.1T_mr, where T_d, T_w and T_mr are dry-bulb, wet-bulb and mean radiant temperatures, respectively). This index was seemed to be useful for evaluating the effect of thermal radiant modifications in open-type barns.