Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas    special volume   number 21   September 28 - November 11, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v0i21.1533

Article

Analysis of hygrothermal conditions for laying

hens in the state of Oaxaca

Ángel Rosario Diaz1§

Rafael Alavez Ramirez1

Magdaleno Caballero Caballero1

José Luis Montes Bernabé1

1Instituto Politécnico Nacional- CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Hornos No. 1003, Col. Noche Buena, Municipio de Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán CP. 71230, Oaxaca. Tel: (951) 517 0610 Ext. 82700.  (arrafael@yahoo.com.mx; macacalleroca@gmail.com; mbernabejoseluis@yahoo.com.mx).

§Autor para correspondencia: ing.luisangelrosariodiaz@gmail.com.

Abstract

For the passive design and location of a poultry farm it is necessary to know the thermal regime of the environment and that of the laying hens. The extreme conditions can cause death due to heat stress to the birds as well as a significant drop in production. The objective of this work was to elaborate the statistical analysis of the polygon of hour comfort of laying hens based on the temperature and humidity index (ITH), for the 9 bioclimates in the state of Oaxaca. Initially, bibliographic data were collected to determine the thermal comfort zone and the optimal ITH. Subsequently, it was determined that the ranges proposed by all the authors are met for a better production with the comfort temperature values for the hens, in the range between 18 °C -22 °C and relative humidity between 60% - 70%. Then, an hourly analysis of the hygrothermal conditions in which the bird is found was carried out by calculating the hourly ITH. The results show that laying hens have an emergency hygrothermal condition and danger during the year in the following proportion: warm bioclimate 20.14% in emergency condition and 32.99% in dangerous condition; humid warm bioclimate 4.86% in emergency condition and 38.54% in dangerous condition; warm dry bioclimate in 1.74% in emergency condition and 18.75% in dangerous condition.

Keywords: comfort hygrothermal conditions of laying hens, heat stress, temperature and humidity index (ITH) of laying hens.

Reception date: april 2018

Acceptance date: july 2018

Introduction

In any type of poultry operation, whether of broiler chickens, commercial egg layers, breeders, or anywhere working with live birds, the environmental factors that have a determining influence are temperature, relative humidity, ventilation and lighting (Vaca, 2003). Temperature and humidity are the most influential factors (Sedat et al., 2007; Ajakaiye et al., 2011; Guevara et al., 2013). Having adequate environmental requirements will allow bird growth, stress reduction, egg production, improved fertility and efficient food processing (Weaver, 2002b). Posture hens do not adapt well to extreme temperatures and it is very important that they stay within their thermo-neutral zone of comfort (Weaver, 2002a) since, in cold climates, the bird will require more energy than when the weather is hot; the consumption of food will be reduced by a smaller percentage, for each degree Celsius of increase in temperature Craig (2002).

The ITH is one of the most widespread indicators to know the thermal regime that an environment presents. The knowledge of the thermal regime of the environment, together with the thermal requirement of laying hens, is a useful tool for making decisions regarding the design of the infrastructure. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop an analysis of the hour comfort polygon of laying hens based on the ITH for the 9 bioclimates present in the state of Oaxaca.

Materials and methods

To determine the thermal comfort zone of the laying hens, bibliographic data of the best egg production under hygrothermal conditions were collected (Table 2), as well as references of the ITH where the best egg production was also obtained (Table 3). Once these two parameters were obtained, a table of ITH values was made to limit the comfort zone of the bird and carry out the climatic and parametric analysis of the site (Figure 1).

Figure 1. ITH values obtained from equation 1.

Obtaining optimal hygrothermal conditions for the production of laying hens

According to the World Meteorological Organization (1989) (Table 1) 4 different ITH values are shown for animals in production that define their hygrothermal condition, which are: normal, alert, danger and emergency.

Table 1. Referential ITH values for animals in production.

In the Table 2 shows the range of values of relative humidity and temperature for which the best results in egg production were obtained. Talukder et al. (2010) evaluated the effect of different environmental conditions on the performance of laying hens, gathering data on temperature, relative humidity, ammonia concentrations and carbon dioxide. The parameters evaluated were: egg production, food consumption, weight and egg shape, showing that the tolerable temperature of the hens ranges from 15 °C -27 °C. At temperatures above 27 °C, food consumption, weight and egg shape begin to be affected. Relative humidity has a lower impact on the production, weight and shape of the egg.

Table 2. Temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) obtained for a good production of laying hens.

Obtained the optimum temperature and humidity ranges, proposed by the different authors, the ITH was used to limit these comfort values. Table 3 shows that in some investigations (Lacetera, 2003; Guevara et al., 2013), there are 4 different values for the ITH that are: normal, alert, danger, emergency. St-Pierre et al. (2003) carried out an analysis using an ITH< 70 for laying hens with the purpose of demonstrating that the economic losses in the poultry industry of the United States of America were due to the fact that the animals were reared in zones and seasons where the temperature leaves the comfort zone of the animal.

Table 3. References of ITH values with good egg production.

Climate and parametric analysis of the site

The classification of the bioclimates was made using the climatic classification proposed by García, which is an adaptation of the Köppen climate classification system (2004), for existing bioclimates in Mexico. The representative meteorological station was randomly selected from a set of meteorological stations that belong to the same bioclimate because they are within the same range of temperature and annual rainfall.

Results and discussion

Determination of the thermal comfort zone for laying hens

A table was elaborated (Figure 1) with the determination of ITH values, using the equation (Dikmen and Hansen, 2009):

ITH= (1.8 × Tdb + 32) − [(0.55 − 0.0055 × RH) × (1.8 × Tdb − 26.8)]                    Equation 1

Where: Tdb= represents the dry bulb temperature in °C; and RH= the relative humidity in (%).

It was determined that for the values: comfort temperature for hens in the range between 18 °C-22 °C and relative humidity between 60%-70%, the ranges proposed by all authors for a better production of the Table are met 2 and do not exceed values greater than 70 of ITH proposed by the authors of Table 3.

The green color shows the ITH values in the range of temperatures and relative humidities proposed as comfort parameters found in this research work.

Analysis by bioclimate

Using the equation of Dikmen and Hansen (2009) and the hourly temperature and humidity analysis proposed by Olygey (2014), the schedule conditions are shown for each of the existing bioclimates in the state of Oaxaca.

For the analysis of this semi-cold bioclimate, the standardized annual data of meteorological station number 20400 located in the municipality of San Pedro Quiatoni, Oaxaca, were acquired. These data show us that the chicken will only be in the hygrothermal state of alert 7.64% of the year as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Analysis of hourly ITH for semi-cold bioclimate.

In the analysis of the semi-cold, dry bioclimate, the standardized annual data of the meteorological station number 20076, located in the municipality of Asunción Nochixtlán, Oaxaca, were acquired. These data show that the hen will only be in the hygrothermal state of alert 12.50% of the year as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Analysis of hourly ITH for dry semi-cold bioclimate.

In the Figure 4 shows the analysis of the humid semi-cold bioclimate. Standardized annual data were obtained from the meteorological station number 20308 located in the municipality of San Mateo Río Hondo, Oaxaca, where the hen is found during the hottest hours in an area of ideal comfort, in night hours, the bird is in a cold state which will cause a greater consumption of food.

Figure 4. Analysis of hourly ITH for humid semi-cold bioclimate.

The hourly data of the temperature and humidity index for a temperate bioclimate (Figure 5), here the hygrothermal data were obtained from the meteorological station number 20329 located in the municipality of Oaxaca of Juárez, where the hen will be in a danger zone 39.93% of the year.

Figure 5. Analysis of hourly ITH for temperate bioclimate.

For the hourly data of the temperature and humidity index of a dry temperate bioclimate (Figure 6). The hygrothermal data were obtained from the meteorological station number 20022 located in the San Bartolo Coyotepec municipality, Oaxaca, where it is observed that the hen will be in a danger zone at 35.76% of the year.

Figure 6. Analysis of hourly ITH for dry temperate bioclimate.

In the Figure 7 shows the hourly data of the temperature and humidity index of a humid temperate bioclimate. The hygrothermal data were obtained from the meteorological station number 20177 located in the municipality of San Ildefonso, Villa Alta, Oaxaca and it is observed that the chicken will be in a danger zone 24.65% of the year.

Figure 7. Analysis of hourly ITH for humid temperate bioclimate.

The hourly data of the temperature and humidity index of a warm bioclimate (Figure 8). The hygrothermal data were obtained from the meteorological station number 20149 located in the municipality of Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, Oaxaca in which it is observed that the hen will be in a danger zone 32.99% of the year and in a state of emergency of 20.14%.

Figure 8. Analysis of hourly ITH for warm bioclimate.

In the Figure 9 shows the hourly data of the temperature and humidity index of a dry warm bioclimate. The hygrothermal data were obtained from the meteorological station number 20170 located in the municipality of San Pedro Totolapan, Oaxaca in which it is observed that the hen will be in a danger zone 18.75% of the year and in a state of emergency of 1.74%.

Figure 9. Schedule ITH analysis for dry warm bioclimate.

The hourly data of the temperature and humidity index of a humid warm bioclimate is shown in Figure 10. The hygrothermal data were obtained from the meteorological station number 20048 located in the municipality of Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca where it is observed that the hen will be in a danger zone 38.54% of the year and in a state of emergency 4.86%.

Figure 10. Analysis of hourly ITH for humid warm bioclimate.

In the Table 4 presents a summary of the statistical percentages that will be given in each of the bioclimates during the year based on the standard data of 1982-2010 provided by the meteorological stations of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). It is observed that the bioclimates in which the bird will have greater development difficulty, loss of body mass and in egg production, correspond mainly to warm bioclimates and to a lesser extent to the hot, humid and warm dry bioclimate.

Table 4. Statistical percentage of ITH conditions for laying hens in the 9 bioclimates present in the state of Oaxaca.

In all the regions of the state of Oaxaca or anywhere else in Mexico, it is enough to find the bioclimate of the desired site in order to know how the bird would behave in that area, in case of establishing a poultry farm. In addition, with the ITH schedules, a prediction of the losses of egg production and weight of hens can be made in each of the existing bioclimates in Mexico using the mathematical model proposed by St-Pierre et al. (2003). Something similar was done by Guevara et al. (2013) for ITH conditions in livestock production, in a province of Venezuela.

Conclusions

In the present work a hygrothermal comfort zone is defined for laying hens that ranges between 18-22 °C and 60-70% relative humidity. This comfort zone will be used to carry out the design of a biospace to obtain a better egg production. The hourly analyzes of the comfort zone in which the hens are located in each bioclimate, will allow to determine the strategies to obtain a better production. It is also observed that the hen will be in danger and alert areas in greater percentage in the warm bioclimates and without a biospace that provides the conditions of adequate hygrothermal comfort will see a considerable drop in its production. In bioclimates with cold conditions there will be a better consumption of food of the bird in order to maintain its body temperature, in addition to a better conversion between consumed food and egg mass Craig (2002).

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