Abstract

The research developed a model for the prediction of the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) inside the rabbits’ pen resulting from combined effects of ventilation openings and building orientations on the performance of rabbit does.Three factors were considered in the study, namely; different seasons of the year (dry and rainy seasons),   building orientations (45^o and 90^o to the directions of the prevailing wind) and ventilation openings (20%, 40%, 60% and 80% side openings).  The experimental set up was a 2 x 2 x 4 completely randomized block design with the effect of orientation and ventilation openings investigated during the dry and rainy seasons, each treatment was replicated four times. Monitoring of the internal environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity, THI_inand ventilation rate) of the building was done when the building was stocked. The measurements were taken twice daily at 08.00h and 14.00h during both seasons. The maximum absolute difference in the prediction of the ventilation rate was 1.94 x 10^-3 m³/s in the 90^o orientation during the rainy season and 4.8 x 10^-3 m³/s in the 45^o orientation during the dry season. The predicted values were approximated closely to the observed values at p ≤ 0.05. There was no significant difference (p≥0.05) between the observed and predicted values. Therefore, the model predicted is valid and appropriate for the THI and the ventilation rates in the rabbit pens.

Key Words: Doe, Opening, Stocked, Ventilation rate, Orientation