Atatürk Üniv. Ziraat Fak. Derg. 34 (2), 167-172, 2003 A Research on Applicability of Greenhouse Sheep Barns in Bursa Conditions 1 Ercan ŞİMŞEK Erkan YASLIOĞLU İsmet ARICI Uludağ Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi, Tarımsal Yapılar ve Sulama Bölümü, Bursa (esimsek@uludag.edu.tr) Geliş Tarihi : 07.10.2002 ABSTRACT: In this study, possibilities of using greenhouse sheep barns were investigated under the climatic conditions of Bursa/Turkey. The study was carried out for 2 years in plastic covered greenhouse sheep barns (8 m x 25 m) located in Agricultural Research and Application Center of Uludag University. Round tubing and white colored plastic (PE) covering material were used as greenhouse construction materials. In order to determine if the indoor environment of greenhouse barn is suitable for sheep housing, certain climatic data such as temperature and relative humidity were collected. Monthly average indoor air temperatures for winter and summer were ranged 7.8-13.1 °C and 22.4-27.1 °C, respectively. Indoor relative humidity was varied from 59 % to100 % in December and 50 % to 100 % in July. Monthly average relative humidity for December and July were 81 % and 70 %, respectively. Indoor air temperature variations were similar to outdoor air temperature variations while indoor relative humidity variations independent from outdoor relative humidity variations. Indoor relative humidity variations were related to the effective use of ventilation openings. The results, demonstrated that if appropriate operation and measurements were maintained, it would be possible to use greenhouse sheep barns under Bursa conditions. Keywords: Sheep, Greenhouse Sheep Barns, Environmental Requirements of Sheep. Sera Tipi Ağılların Bursa Koşullarında Uygulanma Olanaklarının Araştırılması ÖZET: Bu çalışmada, sera tipi koyun ağılının Bursa bölgesi iklim koşullarında uygulanma olanakları araştırılmıştır. Çalışma, Uludağ Üniversitesi Tarımsal Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi’nde 8x25 m boyutlu plastik örtülü sera tipi ağılda 2 yıl süreyle yürütülmüştür. Sera yapı elemanı olarak boru profil ve beyaz renkli plastik(PE) örtü malzemesi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada, ağıl içi çevre koşullarının koyun isteklerine uygunluğunu değerlendirebilmek amacıyla çeşitli iklimsel ölçümler yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda; ağıl içi aylık ortalama sıcaklığı, kış aylarında 7.8-13.1 °C ve yaz aylarında 22.4-27.1 °C arasında değişmektedir. Aynı biçimde, ağıl içi bağıl nemi Aralık ayında % 59-100 ve Temmuz ayında % 50-100 arasında değişim göstermiş, aylık ortalamalar sırasıyla % 81 ve % 70 olarak gerçekleşmiştir. Ağıl içi ortam sıcaklığının dış ortam sıcaklığına paralel bir değişim gösterdiği, bağıl nem değerlerinin ise dış ortamdan bağımsız, havalandırma açıklıklarının kullanımıyla ilgili olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, uygun kullanım ve işletmecilikle birlikte sera tipi koyun ağılının bölge koşullarında uygulanabileceği söylenebilir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Koyun, Sera Tipi Ağıl, Koyunların Çevre İstekleri. INTRODUCTION Sheep production is one of the major livestock production system in Turkey and it depends significantly on pasture grazing. Although sheep production cost is low, sheep barns are usually constructed as closed buildings with high cost. However: such barns are not efficient enough to meet the sheep’s environmental requirements and using labour. Whereas, construction of low-cost sheep barns considering the local conditions is possible and those barns can be capable of maintaining profitable production. Sheep can be grown in very different climatic conditions because of their wool fleece. Thus, sheep can survive in very wide range of environmental conditions. However, sheep should be protected from low temperatures and rainfall in cold, and high temperatures in warm climates. Otherwise, desired production efficiency could not be achieved. In critical periods, indoor air temperature and relative humidity values should be maintained within optimum range (Alkan, 1972). Although appropriate ambient temperature for sheep varies from 4 o C to 24 o C, optimum indoor air temperature is recognised as 10-13 o C (Ekmekyapar, 1991). Damm (1997) suggested that optimum indoor air temperature for sheep, lambs and fattening sheep must be 6-14 °C, 12-14 °C and 14-16 °C, respectively. Sheep can survive at the temperatures as low as – 40 °C. However the resistance level to the cold depends on length and quality of her wool fleece and air flow rate. For instance, a sheep with 60 mm length wool fleece can maintain vital functions and production efficiency at flow rate of 0.2 ms -1 and up to – 7 °C indoor air temperature (Webster, 1976). Upper critical temperature for sheep without causing any loss in efficiency and production can be as high as 32 °C while the relative humidity is below 50 % (Ekmekyapar, 1991). Sheep are sensitive to high relative humidity . Indoor relative humidity should not exceed 80 % except obligatory conditions (Damm, 1997). High relative humidity not only decreases the quantity and quality of wood fleece but also negatively affects the animal health (Balaban and Şen, 1988). Relative humidity of 70-80 % is the most appropriate range for sheep (Geigenmüller, 1992). Indoor air must be fresh, cool and dry. Therefore, high relative humidity must be prevented and adequate air exchange must be provided. In open sheds, there are no heat and humidity accumulation. However, sufficient air exchange is necessary in closed sheds. Air exchange in sheep barns is usually supplied by natural ventilation (Randall and Boon, 1994). In naturally ventilated sheep houses the air inlet should ideally be positioned above