Assessment of solar power-assisted cooling system for heat stress management in HF Deoni crossbred cows

Abstract

A solar power-assisted system was developed and installed to create optimum, healthy environmental conditions inside the animal house. An improved animal house of 48 m² including a manger and urine collection system was selected. The developed system consists of two solar panels of 37 watts each with a DC motor coupled with a pump, four-way foggers, battery (12 V, 22 Ah), charge controller, digital timer, pressure gauge, and water tank (200 L). The assessment of the developed cooling system was carried out by measuring AT (air temperature), RH (relative humidity), THI (temperature–humidity index), and RT (rectal temperature) using 6, 12, and 18 foggers at three different heights of 2.25, 2.5, and 2.75 m with 2, 4, and 6 min operational time intervals. The AT, RH and THI were strongly influenced by the fogger cooling system, wherein AT was lowered by 9.2–2.6 °C and RH was increased from 13–47% inside the animal house. The minimum rectal temperature of 38.11 °C and THI 81.71% was recorded at 18 foggers installed at a height of 2.75 m with a 4 min operational time interval. Therefore, the installed solar power-assisted cooling system for fogging water created an optimum cooling effect inside the animal house.