Journal of Animal Environmental Science ISSN:1226-0274(Print) 축산시설환경학회지

Recent climate change trends have leaded thermal and cold stress concerns in commercial broiler houses, significantly impacting the animal welfare, productivity, and energy efficiency of broiler farming. Consequently, conducting an energy load analysis is integral to reducing energy consumption and ensuring optimal conditions for livestock. This study developed a Building Energy Simulation (BES) model, validated to predict the internal environment and energy demands in broiler houses. To validate the BES model, field experiments were conducted in a commercial broiler house for data collection of both internal and external environmental conditions. The precision of BES model was evaluated using the Coefficient of Variation of Root Mean Square Error (Cv (RMSE)) and Normalized Mean Bias Error (NMBE), resulting in a Cv (RMSE) of 2.82% for air temperature and 2.72% for absolute humidity, and NMBE values of 2.26% and -1.42%, respectively. These results demonstrate the high accuracy of model, aligning with building energy model standards. The BES model, implemented in the field experiment broiler house, predicted a heating load that peaked at approximately 1893.23 MJ/hr, while the cooling load was anticipated to maximize at about 1627.61 MJ/hr. The cumulative total of the heating and cooling energy loads was estimated to be around 3,303,895 MJ. Results indicate the developed model could potentially improve energy efficiency in broiler houses and assess energy loads under various conditions.