Life Sciences Commons^™

Field Calibration Of A Transient Model For Broiler Misting, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Robert W. Bottcher, Shu Hui Zhang

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A transient model to predict temperature within a tunnel ventilated broiler house during misting is developed. The model is calibrated with field data to obtain steady-state constants; transient predictions are compared to measured temperatures during cyclic misting for two different size birds. Measured temperatures during cyclic misting are shown to swing between steady-state asymptotes predicted from the model. Transient response of the model was faster than measured temperature data, in part due to temperature sensor dynamic response. The model predicts the length-wise temperature profile within the building during misting, and can be used to investigate alternate misting strategies and designs. …

Mechanical Backup Systems For Electronic Environmental Controllers, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Larry W. Turner

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A series of mechanical backup systems for electronic environmental controllers is presented for a typical finishing swine barn and a typical tunnel ventilated broiler house. The systems consist of mechanical thermostats and timers used in parallel with the electronic controller, designed to ensure animal survival in the event of controller or related hardware failure. For swine housing, three distinct mechanical backup functions are identified; for broiler housing, four distinct mechanical backup functions are identified. Schematic diagrams of the mechanical backup functions are provided and their implementation is described.

Growing Soybean Varieties From Multiple Maturity Groups Can Reduce Yearly Yield Volatility, Todd W. Pfeiffer

Agronomy Notes

In the Kentucky Soybean Performance Test program, varieties of maturity groups (MG) 3, 4 and 5 are tested to provide information on their relative yields. The difference in maturity between the earliest and the latest maturing variety in the test in any year is approximately 30 days. In general, although some regional differences appear, the long-term state-wide and within region yield of the different maturity groups (average yield of a 11 varieties in a maturity group) is equal (Table 1). As I've inspected results from the Kentucky Soybean Performance Tests for the last decade, it appeared that some of the …

Immune Responses Of Systemic And Mucosal Lymphoid Organs To Pnu-Imune Vaccine As A Function Of Age And The Efficacy Of Monophosphoryl Lipid A As An Adjuvant, Manju Garg, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

A murine model system was established to study immune responses to the Pnu-Imune vaccine, which is made up of 23 different pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides. In this animal model, antibody-forming cell responses to 21 of 23 individual polysaccharides in the vaccine were detected. The Pnu-Imune vaccine elicited good antibody responses from the spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of young mice, whereas a variety of other peripheral lymph nodes were unresponsive. The immunoglobulin M plaque-forming cell (PFC) response in the spleen to the Pnu-Imune vaccine (given intraperitoneally or subcutaneously) decreased dramatically with increasing age. However, the spleen and MLN differed in …

Trends In Cropland Acreage And Fertilizer Use In Kentucky Since 1980, Kenneth L. Wells

Agronomy Notes

Cropland acreage and patterns of fertilizer use varied considerably during the period 1980-1991. Variation in cropland acreage is largely related to commodity prices, available markets, land ownership patterns, and government programs. Patterns of fertilizer use are affected by cropland acreage, the nature of the fertilizer supply industry in Kentucky, weather, and improved efficiency in use of time and labor by farmers. The situation in the early 1990's is different than it was in 1980, and the following discussion highlights changes that have taken place. Fertilizer use data are those reported by the University of Kentucky's Division of Regulatory Services in …

A Survey Of Electronic Environmental Controllers, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Larry W. Turner

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Sixteen commercially available electronic environmental controllers were evaluated. The units were classified according to enclosure type, analog versus microprocessor based control, power supply, sensors, alarms, control relays and triac output, interval timers, outside temperature feedback, and retail price. An assessment of these controllers indicated several critical limitations in the application of this technology.

The use of integrated controllers for animal production has the potential for substantial improvements in production efficiencies. If the limitations observed in the present controller technology, as represented by this sample, are addressed, industry acceptance of the technology can be accelerated. A uniform standard to address this …

Transient Overvoltage Testing Of Environmental Controllers, Richard S. Gates, Larry W. Turner, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The integrated electronic control system will provide a new method for the day-to-day management of environmental control of animal production systems. No standards are currently accepted for transient overvoltage protection of these controllers. To assess the adequacy of existing designs, a test circuit was designed and used for a transient open circuit over-voltage waveform (ANSI/IEEE C62.41-1980) of 16 environmental control units: a maximum spike of 770 V was applied to the power supplies, and a spike up to 100 V was applied to temperature sensor lines. For these relatively mild tests, no failures were noted due to power supply transients, …

An Early-Planted, Early Maturing Soybean Cropping System: Yield And Harvest Losses, Larry J. Grabau, M. V. Kane, H. Lin, Dennis B. Egli

Agronomy Notes

Most soybean varieties used In Kentucky, whether grown full season or double-cropped behind wheat or barley, are from Maturity Groups (MG) IV or V. Some MG III varieties are also grown; however, virtually no MG 1/ or earner varieties are planted. Agronomists and soybean producers in Kentucky· have generally felt that MG IV and V varieties produce the highest yield. Since the driest months in Kentucky are August, September,and October, MG IV and V varieties frequently encounter moisture stress during the important seed fill stage. The use of earlier maturing varieties was initially proposed as a means of getting a …

Corn Response To Zinc On High Ph Soils, William O. Thom, James E. Dollarhide, Jeff Henderson, Vern Case

Agronomy Notes

Corn is the most responsive to zinc of all agronomic crops grown in Kentucky. Zinc deficiency can occur most often in soil of the Inner Bluegrass and in south central Kentucky. This deficiency is most likely when these soils have a high pH, although such factors as high phosphorus, low organic matter, and loss of topsoil through erosion or construction can increase deficiency symptoms. Also, zinc deficiency is more prevalent during a cool, wet spring with symptoms often disappearing when the soils become warmer and drier. Zinc is a very immobile element, thus roots must grow throughout the root zone …