Farming Monthly National May 2017 | Page 19

| Energy Are you ready for the summer heat before it gets here….? Protect your livestock from overheating by investing in an affordable evaporative cooler or ventilator. Animals need protecting from solar heat and need to keep hydrated to be comfortable and healthy. ans - Traditional circulation fans are often installed to enhance air velocity when livestock are indoors, however these fans are not necessarily the most effective option. They work to increase air speed using old recycled air which is already available within the space, which ultimately spreads germs and bacteria at a much faster rate and doesn’t actually cool the animal as the temperature of the air has not been lowered just recirculated. This could be incredibly damaging to stock during a bird flu or foot and mouth outbreak by increasing the spread of infected air particles. Evaporative Cooling - Switching to evaporative cooling can provide great benefits, not only does it lower the temperature of the air (by pushing it over saturated CELDek pads) to keep animals cool and hydrated, it also uses clean fresh air from outside and actively removes the old exhaust air, minimizing the possibility for cross contamination. Excessive heat exasperation can lead to a decrease in productivity for many animals; research confirms that cows produce the most milk when they are kept in a cool and comfortable F www.farmingmonthly.co.uk climate, similarly chickens lay more eggs when they are kept cool and hydrated. Ventilation – For those months which aren’t scorching many farmers are turning to ventilation, similarly to the evaporative cooler, the ventilator works by bringing in fresh outdoor air and extracts old exhaust air. This is a much more effective approach in comparison to traditional recirculation fans and also minimizes the possibility of disease. For unpredictable times when birds are at risk of avian influenza and poultry is required to stay inside an effective evaporative cooler or ventilator should be installed, to mirror their usual outdoor environment to ensure productivity. These require minimum maintenance. Energy Efficiency - Fresh Air Cooling with EcoCooling can provide a 3m3/s or cool a 30kW load from 1kW of power at a cost of under 14p per hour and temperatures will never exceed 23°C on the hottest of days. The in-house R&D department works to incorporate the latest energy efficient technologies into all product ranges ensuring our clients have some of the most innovative ventilation and cooling systems in the world. This focus on innovation has also resulted in EcoCooling holding a number of patents for fresh air technologies. Our complimentary in-house design consultancy service capitalises on our vast industry experience to work closely with consultants and clients to design the most efficient systems possible. For more information on our cooling options please contact [email protected] or call 01284 810 586 See us at Edie Live Stand No: N25 Webite: www.ecocooling.org May 2017 | Farming Monthly | 19