COOL-FX BIOBASED COOLS POULTRY BARNS AND CUTS ENERGY USE

Surface temperatures were measured with a DJI Mavic T3 infrared drone during the application: 34.5 °C on the coated roof against 49.2 °C on the uncoated roof, a difference of 14.7 °C.

Inside the empty barns on 8 August 2024, before the chicks arrived and with fans and cooling pads off, the coated barn stayed cooler at every reading: 26.1 °C against 32.2 °C at 13:00 (outside: 34.4 °C), 27.6 °C against 34.9 °C at 15:00 (outside: 39.4 °C) and 27.2 °C against 33.8 °C at 18:00 (outside: 36.6 °C).

Once the chicks arrived, both barns had to hold 33 °C on the first day, then lower the temperature gradually to 20 °C by day 42. The coated barn is expected to show smaller temperature fluctuations, which benefits bird health and electricity use.

Compared with the uncoated barn, the coated barn performed better on every indicator measured. Three findings stand out.

Fewer losses:

1,101 birds were lost in the coated barn against 1,397 in the uncoated barn (21% fewer), out of 33,255 chicks each over the 42-day cycle.

More meat from less feed:

By day 35, the coated barn produced 69,388 kg of meat (including bones) against 67,602 kg (3% more), while consuming 94,900 kg of the same feed against 96,400 kg (2% less).

Better feed conversion:

The feed conversion ratio (FCR) reached 1.36 against 1.42 in the uncoated barn (4% lower), well below the expected maximum of 1.47 at day 35. A lower FCR means more efficient use of feed.

Other factors, such as the genetics of the parent animals, crowding, rapid temperature drops, ventilation and diseases, may also have influenced these results.