Effective temperature in the barn - What does your animal really feel?

As a livestock farmer, you know how important the house climate is for the health and performance of your animals. Chickens do not have sweat glands and can only regulate their temperature to a limited extent. They try to lose heat by panting, spreading their wings and becoming calmer. When it is cold, they fluff up their feathers, seek out other chickens and increase their feed intake to produce heat.

However, their own temperature regulation is limited. That is why a good housing climate is essential: the right ventilation, heating and humidity help the chicken to stay within its comfort zone without wasting energy on overheating or hypothermia.

But did you know that the temperature on the climate computer does not always tell you how the animals really feel? This is due to the difference between measured temperature and effective temperature.

What is effective temperature?

The effective temperature is the temperature as actually experienced by an animal. This experience depends not only on the air temperature, but also on other climate conditions in the house. These include:

Humidity – high humidity makes it more difficult for animals to lose heat.
Air speed – draughts can make it feel colder, especially for young or sensitive animals.
Heat radiation – for example from warm floors or direct sunlight.
The condition of the animal – young animals or animals with a higher metabolism have different needs than older or heavier animals.

Why is this important?

Animals react to what they feel, not to the numbers on the climate computer. A temperature of 22°C may seem fine on paper, but if the air is humid and there is hardly any air exchange, it can feel stuffy and too warm for the animals. The reverse is also true: at a higher temperature and with sufficient air movement, they may feel comfortable.

Good climate control therefore not only monitors the temperature, but also controls humidity, ventilation and, if necessary, heating or cooling to keep the effective temperature within the animals' comfort zone.

What does this mean for you?

If you use a modern climate computer, don't just pay attention to the temperature settings, but also look at how the control system responds to humidity and air flows. Fancom's new Fancom One Smart Farm Ecosystem calculates the effective temperature very accurately using a smart algorithm based on thorough research and extensively tested by climate specialists. The Fancom One uses this calculated effective temperature as the basis for controlling the climate in the house. The result: healthier animals, better growth, fewer losses and more peace and quiet in the barn.

In summary

The effective temperature is what the animal actually feels.
It is influenced by temperature, humidity and air flows.
A good stable climate takes all these factors into account.
Modern control systems are becoming increasingly smart at controlling this ‘perceived temperature’.

Think beyond the thermometer

Your animals feel more than just the temperature. By controlling the effective temperature, you get more out of your climate control system – and out of your farm performance. Ask yourself: is your climate computer smart enough to take humidity, air speeds and radiation into account?

Seek advice, take a critical look at your settings and invest in climate control that really thinks along with your animals. Would you like to know how Fancom One can do this automatically for you? Feel free to contact us – we are happy to help.

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To the blog overview

What is effective temperature?

Why is this important?

What does this mean for you?

In summary

Think beyond the thermometer

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