Simulation of a turkey house environment

A simulation model was developed to predict indoor dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity in a turkey house. Existing weather simulation models were combined and modified in order to develop a model for predicting daily dry-bulb temperature and humidity ratio outside the turkey house. The weather simulation model was validated using 20 years of daily observed weather data from Roanoke, Virginia. The thermal environment inside the turkey house was predicted from the simulated outdoor weather using energy and mass balance equations. The house environment prediction part of the model was validated using observed inside and outside temperature data collected at a turkey farm in Virginia. The predicted indoor temperature was close to the observed temperature except on very cold days (with average outside temperature of 2°C or less). Also errors in temperature prediction were less with older birds than with younger birds.