Direct surface wetting sprinkler system to reduce the use of evaporative cooling pads in meat chicken production: indoor thermal environment, water usage, litter moisture content, live market weights, and mortalities

An overhead sprinkler system that directly applies water onto meat chickens in tunnel ventilated houses was evaluated and compared with a conventional evaporative cooling pad at 2 commercial farms south-eastern Queensland, Australia. The used to reduce the use of pads as primary but not replace altogether. low pressure comprised evenly spaced sprinklers programmable controller. Water applied intermittently based on house temperature program related bird age. study conducted over 6 sequential grow-outs during 1-year period. Air temperature, relative humidity, litter moisture content, usage, live market weight, mortality were assessed study. effect these measured parameters complicated by interactions farm, batch, age, time day. We found that, general, combined systems less water, while having similar control fitted pads. When required, had warmer air lower humidity than houses. Bird comfort due direct evaporating off birds this inferred from thermal camera images weight data. This first Australia involving system, we suggest design operation may require some adaptation better suit Australian poultry climatic conditions, including need for additional improve coverage, set-point temperatures, altering spacing ceiling baffle curtains (if fitted).