Investigating Combined Effect of Air Temperature, Humidity, and Velocity on the Thermal Comfort of Poultry Birds

Abstract

The study presents the combined effects of temperature, humidity, and velocity upon the thermal comfort of poultry birds. The months of April, May, June, and July pose challenges for the well-being of these vulnerable birds. The average daily variations as depicted by the figures show how the temperature synchronizes with the corresponding humidity value at a certain period in the day. The minimal rise in the relative humidity against the subsequent fall in dry bulb temperature wreaks havoc on the poultry birds. Apart from energy-efficient evaporative cooling techniques, the present study depicts the importance of the velocity factor to mitigate heat stress. Temperature-Humidity-Velocity index (THVI) is introduced synergistically to check and balance the thermal comfort of poultry birds. According to the results, the THVI index indicates the efficiency of optimal velocity limits to dissipate moisture heat production in the poultry sheds. The results indicate that the rise in velocity value synergistically increases the thermal exposure time (ET) against the THVI value. The increase in velocity elongates the normal zone for the one-degree rise in temperature.