Solar Based Incubator as Renewable Source of Energy on the Growth Performance, Electricity Uses and Housing Environments of Piglets
Solar Based Incubator as Renewable Source of Energy on the Growth Performance, Electricity Uses and Housing Environments of Piglets
Shad Mahfuz1,2†, Hong-Seok Mun1,3†, Muhammad Ammar Dilawar1, Keiven Mark B Ampode1,4, Veasna Chem1, Young-Hwa Kim5, Jong-Pil Moon6, Chul-Ju Yang1,7*
ABSTRACT
This study examined the effects of solar heating system as a source of renewable energy on the growth performance, electricity uses and housing environments of piglets. For this trial, a total 20 piglets having similar average body weight 6.83 ± 1.07 kg (mean ± std.) were randomly divided into 2 (two) incubators, control (conventional) incubator and the solar based incubator with 10 replicates each. The experimental duration was 10 weeks (70 days). Feed intake, body weight gain, electricity consumption, environmental parameters includes temperature, humidity, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentration were measured on weekly basis. There were no significant differences on the final body weight, average daily body weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), between the incubators. However, ADG was numerically higher (P > 0.05) and FCR was lower (P > 0.05) in solar heating incubator compared with the control incubator. The consumption of electricity with solar based incubator was reduced by 59.13 kWh/head and the saving efficacy was about 49.6% than the conventional incubator. Internal temperature was higher (P < 0.05) in solar based incubator. The ammonia concentration and hydrogen sulfide concentration were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in solar based incubator than the control incubator. The solar based heating incubator might be eco-friendly and renewable source of energy for the sustainable pig production.
Keywords | Solar based incubator, Growth performance, Electricity uses, House environment, Piglets
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