ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR HORSES
Man achieves environmental control through clothing. vacationing in resort areas, and air-conditioned
homes and cars. Limited basic research has shown that animals are more efficient— that they produce and perform better, and require less feed— if raised under ideal conditions of temperature, humidity, and ventilation. The primary reason for having horse buildings, therefore, is to modify the environment. Properly designed barns and other shelters, shades, insulation, ventilation, and air conditioning, can be used the approach the environment that we wish. Naturally, the investment in environmental control facilities must be balanced a- gainst. the expected increased returns: and there is a point beyond which further expenditures for environmental control will not increase returns sufficiently to justify the added cost. This point of diminishing returns will differ between sections of the country, quality of the horses( the more valuable the animals, the higher the expenditures for environmental control can be), and operators; and labor and feed costs will enter into the pictures, also.
Environmental control is of particular importance iir horse barn construction, because many horses spend the majority of their lives in stalls— for example, race and show horses may be confined as much as 95 percent of the time.
Heat Production By Horses
The heat produced by horses varies according to body weight, rate of feeding, environmental conditions, and degree of activity. Under average conditions, a 1,000-pound horse gives off about 1,790 Btu’ s per hour, and a 1,500-pound horse, 2,450 BtuJs per hour.
Moisture Production By Horses
Most building designers are inclined to govern the amount of air change by the need for moisture removal. A horse breathes into the air approximately 17.5 pounds, or about 2 1 gallons, of moisture per day. For 40 horses, there would be given off 700 pounds or about 84 gallons, of water per day. The removal of such a large quantity of moisture, especially in the winter when the barn is closed, is a difficult probl for the designer to solve. lem
Recommended Environmental Control For Horses
Because there is a paucity of experimental work environmental control for horses upon which to bas «
recommendations for barns for them, confineme ® systems in use for beef and dairy cattle, swine, a "!
poultry were studied by the writer as a means 0f L riving ' at the following environmental control recommendations for equities:
i Temperature- the comfort zone of horses is witK in the range of 45 ° to 75 ° F., with 55 ° F. considered optimum.
Until they are dry, newborn foals should be warmed
to 75 ° to 80 ° F., which can be accomplished by means
of a heat lamp. 2. Humidity- the preferred relative humidity is 60 °/ although a range of 50 to 75 ' Y, is acceptable.
3. Insulation and Ventilation- these needs will vary from area to area. Where a wide spread between summer and winter temperature exists, and where horses are confined much of the time, proper insulation and ventilation are of prime importance. Under such circumstances, for moisture control in winter and temperature control in summer, horse barns should have at least two inches of insulation on the ceiling or roof, and the sidewalls should be insulated.
The design of the barn, and the temperature of the area, will determine the best type of ventilating system to use. Also, the requirements for summer and winter are so different that it is best to use two different ventilating systems— one for winter, and the other for summer. My recommendations follow: a. Winter ventilating system- designed for a minimum of 60 cfm( cubic feet / minute) for each 1,000 pounds of horse. b. Summer ventilating system- another system( in addition to the whiter system) of 100 cfm per 1,000 pounds of animal should be available and used when needed.
During the summer, a satisfactory ventilating system can usually be achieved by opening( 1) barn doors, and( 2) high-up walls, or hinged panels, that swing down. Then on extremely hot or quiet days, the natural ventilating system may be augmented
with the summer and / or winter fan ventilating system( in the summer, reverse the winter fan( s) to
exhaust air). A professional engineer should always be engaged
to design the ventilating system. Generally, summer exhaust fans should be placed high, and winter exhaust fans low. Whatever the ventilating system, drafts on horses should be avoided.
4. Light- windows should be provided in the ratio of 1 square foot for each 30 square feet of floor area. They should be protected from horses and screene to keep flies out. Additionally, artificial light shou be provided for the convenience of the caretaker. One 60-watt bulb, properly recessed and Pr ° te <"!; e’ m each stall, plus lighting in the aisle, should suffice-
5. Water Temperature- in the winter months, water
lor the horse should be warmed to 40 ° to 45 ° F.; the summer, it should be within the range of t > u to 75 F.
10 Horse
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