Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.

If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

Moisture Production rate (MP) from animals and their housing components provide fundamental data for the engineering design of a building environmental control system. MP of a commercial laying hen house with manure belt and tunnel ventilation was measured for a one-year period. The MP values included both latent heat loss of the birds and evaporation of moisture from the feces on manure belt. During the one-year measurement period, MP varied from 1.57 to 11.74 g H2O h-1 kg-1 with housing temperature ranging from 18 to 32 oC. Regression equations were established to predict MP of the commercial layer house over common ranges of outside temperature (-17 to 29oC), RH (30% to 98%), inside temperature (18-32oC), age condition (20- 42 wk and 97-119 wk) and lighting condition (light or dark). Results from this study provide new data for updated standards to be used in design and operation of laying hen houses.