Method for enhancing poultry production

Abstract

A method is provided for raising poultry, such as chickens, for food production. In a first preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, exposing an interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a first period and regulating light cycles of the interior for a second period, thereby mimicking daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes for stimulating sexual development of the poultry. In a second preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, limiting exposure of an interior of the facility to light to produce a brown-out effect therein for enhancing physical development of the poultry.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 663,294 filed Sep. 16, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 360,040 filed Feb. 6, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 072,433 filed on Feb. 8, 2002, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application 60 / 267,912 filed Feb. 9, 2001.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to methods of poultry production and more particularly to a method for enhancing poultry production. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In various industries such as those involving agriculture, it is often necessary to circulate relatively large amounts of air through a building to help maintain the interior of the building within a desired temperature range, and to provide adequate ventilation. One such application where ventilation and control of the temperature within a building is extremely important is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a method for improving poultry production by regulating the light poultry is exposed to. This is achieved by using a poultry house with at least one exhaust fan that includes light absorbing components to eliminate light transmitted into the house. The method includes a light regulation scheme that manipulates the day / night schedule that poultry perceives, either by providing a completely dark environment or a dimming effect during daylight hours. This regulation scheme can enhance the growth characteristics of poultry, such as stimulating egg production or balancing the psychological balance of the poultry. The invention can provide significant financial gains for poultry farmers and improve the quality and quantity of meat produced.

Problems solved by technology

If a poultry house is not properly ventilated, and the ambient temperature within it not properly controlled, the respiration of the chickens and the waste by-products within the poultry house can quickly give rise to a build up of ammonia and heat within the house which may be physiologically detrimental to the chickens.

In extreme cases, such as where adequate ventilation and / or cooling is not provided on hot summer days, significant animal mortality may result.

Even if mortality does not result, repeated lapses of proper ventilation and / or cooling can produce significant physiological stress on the chickens that results in inhibited growth, reduced egg production, and / or disease.

Further, any concentrated areas of light shining into the poultry house will attract the chickens to that area, resulting in a crowd of chickens.

This may be psychologically detrimental to the chickens which further inhibits their physical development.

Any of the above conditions may result in significant financial losses to a poultry farmer.

The light that passes into the poultry house is detrimental to the efficient farming of poultry for the reasons discussed above.

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