- Maintain Air Quality
A key requirement of any minimum ventilation system is to meet the oxygen demand of the modern broiler chick and to ensure good distribution of fresh air throughout the broiler house. Oxygen is required for both the production of body heat and metabolism of nutrients essential for growth. Ventilation systems remove carbon dioxide and supply chicks with the oxygen they need to develop healthy cardiovascular systems and to prevent problems such as ascites, which can occur if demand for oxygen increases by just five percent.
- Remove Excess Moisture
The minimum ventilation systems are also responsible for removing excess moisture from the litter. Today’s modern broiler chicks consume nearly twice as much water at 28 days than they did 25 years ago. Approximately 75 percent of the water consumed daily is released as water vapor from the respiratory system or deposited along with the droppings as moisture in the litter.
The litter in a broiler house acts like a sponge. If the ventilation system cannot keep up with moisture deposited in the litter, the surface of the litter eventually becomes damp and slippery. Once moisture reaches the surface, no water can escape and the situation cannot be reversed. This is a dangerous and unsanitary environment, producing very high bacterial loads, ammonia odors, insect infestations and even footpad lesions. However, proper management of moisture levels should ensure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are kept in check.
- Regulate Temperature
The third function ofthe minimum ventilation system is to maintain the proper temperature distribution in the broiler house. Chicks are not thermo competent until 14 daysof age, and therefore rely on supplementary heat to keep them warm. Keeping chicks warm and ensuring adequate supplementary feed, access to fresh water and good minimum ventilation are crucial factors for determining a flock's overall performance.
