JP7536249B2 - Livestock breeding system, livestock breeding device, and livestock breeding method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system for raising livestock using a superheated steam heater, a livestock raising device using a superheated steam heater, and a livestock raising method using a superheated steam heater. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system for raising pigs using a superheated steam heater in a piggery, a pig raising device using a superheated steam heater, and a pig raising method using a superheated steam heater.

Patent Document 1 describes a superheated steam heater that emits far infrared rays, but makes no mention of using the superheated steam heater for livestock in livestock barns. When using a superheated steam heater to raise animals, care must be taken to ensure that their body temperature does not rise too high, and no thought had been given to using it for animals.

Patent Document 2 describes a method for raising animals by irradiating far-infrared rays. However, the far-infrared rays are emitted from a far-infrared heater, and not from a superheated steam heater. When far-infrared rays are emitted from a far-infrared heater, the far-infrared rays only reach the area around the heater. In contrast, when a superheated steam heater is used, the superheated steam fills every corner of the entire livestock house, and the far-infrared rays also rain down on the entire livestock house. Therefore, when a superheated steam heater is used, the effect of warming livestock is much greater than when a far-infrared heater is used.

Patent No. 4671076 JP 2005-287428 A

The goal is to warm the bodies of livestock using a superheated steam heater.

The goal is to use a superheated steam heater to warm the bodies of livestock, resulting in the livestock becoming more active.

When multiple livestock are kept in the same livestock house, the results of using a superheated steam heater to warm the livestock's bodies vary depending on the individual livestock. The goal is to prevent health damage to as many livestock as possible while taking such individual differences into account.

As pigs are a type of livestock, the effects of heating their bodies become apparent immediately because they do not sweat. The challenge is to find a way to warm pigs' bodies using a superheated steam heater without causing any health damage.

(1) The problem is solved by a livestock rearing system that includes a heating means for warming livestock using superheated steam, a body temperature information acquisition means for acquiring body temperature information of the livestock warmed by the heating means, and a superheated steam generation amount change means for changing the amount of superheated steam generated so that the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquisition means approaches a predetermined specified body temperature of the livestock.
When superheated steam is used to warm livestock, it fills every corner of the livestock barn, allowing the livestock to be warmed efficiently. Superheated steam is also thought to generate far infrared rays, which has the effect of destroying bacteria in the air and improving odors while simultaneously heating the livestock. A means of acquiring the livestock's body temperature is required to keep the livestock's body temperature from rising too high. The prescribed body temperature is the body temperature that is desirable for maintaining the health of livestock. By setting a "prescribed body temperature" in advance and allowing the livestock's body temperature to approach the prescribed body temperature, the livestock can be kept healthy.
(2) The problem is solved by the livestock raising system described in claim 1, characterized in that the body temperature information acquisition means acquires the body temperature information of the livestock by thermographic images of the livestock.
By using a thermographic image, body temperature information can be easily obtained. Body temperature information of livestock can be obtained using a general thermometer as well as a thermographic image. Also, a radiation thermometer can be used to pinpoint specific livestock.
(3) The problem is solved by the livestock raising system described in claim 1, characterized in that the body temperature information acquisition means acquires the body temperature information of the livestock based on the room temperature of the livestock house in which the livestock are raised.
Since the room temperature of a livestock house closely affects the body temperature of the livestock themselves, information about the body temperature of the livestock can be obtained from the room temperature.
(4) The problem is solved by a livestock rearing system described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the superheated steam generation amount changing means changes the amount of superheated steam generated in accordance with the body temperature difference between the specified body temperature of the livestock and the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquisition means.
When there is a large difference between the specified body temperature, which is the livestock's preferred body temperature, and the acquired body temperature, which is the livestock's actual body temperature, the amount of superheated steam generated must be changed significantly, whereas when there is a small difference between the specified body temperature and the acquired body temperature, the change in the amount of superheated steam generated can be made only slightly.
(5) The problem is solved by a livestock breeding system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the superheated steam generation amount change means changes the amount of steam generated by changing the amount of heat used to heat the steam.
(6) The problem is solved by the livestock rearing system described in claim 5, characterized in that the heating means is equipped with multiple coils for heating the air in the livestock house, and the amount of heat used to heat the water vapor can be changed by changing the number of coils to be heated.
(7) The problem is solved by the livestock rearing system described in claim 6, characterized in that the amount of heat used to heat the water vapor is changed by heating only a heating coil that is preset in accordance with the body temperature difference between the specified body temperature of the livestock and the acquired body temperature of the livestock.
(8) The problem is solved by a livestock rearing system described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the heating means includes a heating mechanism for heating water to generate steam, a water circulation mechanism for circulating the water that becomes the source of steam, and a blower mechanism for sending air from the livestock house in which the livestock are reared to the heating mechanism.
(9) The problem is solved by the livestock rearing system described in claim 8, characterized in that the amount of air sent from the blowing mechanism to the heating mechanism is a predetermined amount that cannot be changed.
By preventing the amount of air sent to the heating mechanism from being changed, the temperature, quantity, and quality of the superheated steam can be kept constant.
(10) The problem is solved by a livestock rearing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the superheated steam is constantly generated and the amount generated does not reach zero.
If there is an opportunity for the amount of superheated steam generated to drop to zero, it will result in changes in the body temperature of the livestock, causing stress to the livestock, so it is desirable for superheated steam to be generated at all times.
(11) The problem is solved by a livestock breeding system described in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the livestock are warmed by far infrared rays generated from the superheated steam.
When the superheated steam is cooled, it releases condensation heat, generating far infrared rays. The condensation heat transmits heat deep into the livestock, warming them.
(12) The problem is solved by a livestock breeding system described in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the livestock is a pig.
Pigs do not sweat and are therefore unable to regulate their body temperature adequately, so the effect of using superheated steam to warm them is greater than that of other livestock.
(13) The problem is solved by a livestock breeding device that includes a heating mechanism that warms livestock using superheated steam, a body temperature information acquisition mechanism that acquires body temperature information of the livestock warmed by the heating mechanism, and a superheated steam generation amount change mechanism that changes the amount of superheated steam generated so that the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquisition mechanism approaches a predetermined specified body temperature of the livestock.
(14) The problem is solved by a livestock raising method including a heating process for warming livestock using superheated steam, a body temperature information acquisition process for acquiring body temperature information of the livestock warmed by the heating process, and a superheated steam generation amount change process for changing the amount of superheated steam generated so that the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquisition process approaches a predetermined specified body temperature of the livestock.

Livestock can be kept warm using a superheated steam heater.

Using a superheated steam heater to warm the bodies of livestock makes them more active.

When multiple livestock are kept by the same owner, the results of using a superheated steam heater to warm the livestock's bodies vary depending on the individual differences of the livestock. Taking such individual differences into account, it is important to ensure that as many livestock as possible are not harmed by health problems.

Among livestock, pigs do not sweat, so the effects of heating their bodies appear immediately. When using a superheated steam heater to warm a pig's body, the health hazards are extremely low.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the entire first embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a proper body temperature maintenance program. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an appropriate room temperature maintaining program. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the rearing method according to Example 1 of the present application. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a superheated steam generation amount adjustment program. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing appropriate heating coil information (for body temperature). FIG. 13 is a diagram showing proper heating coil information (for room temperature). The results of a comparative experiment between a pig house using a superheated steam heater and a pig house using a normal heater are shown in numerical form. The photographs show the results of a comparative experiment between a pig house using a superheated steam heater and a pig house using a normal heater. The results of a comparative experiment between a pig house using a superheated steam heater and a pig house using a normal heater are shown on a thermography screen.

Reference Signs List 1 Pigpen 10 Superheated steam heater terminal 20 Thermography image capture device terminal 30 Pigpen terminal 40 Internet 50 Server 51 Processing program information storage area 52 Storage information storage area 60 Superheated steam generator 61 Fan 62 Superheated steam generator unit 63 Water 64 Upper part 65 Heating chamber 66 Coil chamber

[Overall Invention]
The overall outline of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Pigs are raised in the pigpen 1. The pigpen is equipped with a superheated steam heater 10 and a thermographic image capture device terminal 20. Although not shown, the livestock pen is also equipped with measuring instruments such as a thermometer, hygrometer, and air meter, as well as devices such as a video capture device. These devices are used to measure the conditions inside the livestock pen and take videos. The superheated steam heater terminal 10, the thermographic image capture device terminal 20, other devices, and the pigpen terminal 30 are connected to a server 50 and an information and communication network such as the Internet 40 so that they can exchange information.

Superheated steam heaters emit superheated steam, which spreads vertically and horizontally throughout the pig house in a short time. Superheated steam emits far infrared rays as it cools, so once it has spread throughout the pig house, it brings far infrared rays to every corner of the house.

The thermographic image capture device captures thermographic images of the pigpen. The capture device may be installed in the pigpen, or it may be a separate, mobile capture device.

The server 50 stores a processing program information storage area 51 and a memory information storage area 52. The processing program information storage area 51 stores an appropriate body temperature maintenance program, an appropriate room temperature maintenance program, and a superheated steam generation amount adjustment program. The memory information area 52 stores specified range (body temperature/room temperature) information, appropriate heating coil information (for body temperature, for room temperature), thermographic image information, video information, measurement information, and judgment information. The appropriate body temperature maintenance program is described in FIG. 2, etc. The appropriate room temperature maintenance program is described in FIG. 3, etc. The superheated steam generation amount adjustment program is described in FIG. 6, etc. The appropriate heating coil information (for body temperature, for room temperature) is described in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, etc. Thermographic image information is illustrated in FIG. 11. Video information is video information of the livestock house. Measurement information is information such as date and time, temperature, humidity, outdoor temperature, indoor temperature, odor intensity, average body temperature of pigs, pig weight gain, accident rate, etc. Judgment information is information about decisions made in accordance with each of the above programs.

The stored information of the thermographic images, the measurement results, the judgment results, and the instructions given as a result of the judgment are recorded and stored along with other information and are used as reference material for making better judgments in the future.

The program for maintaining an appropriate body temperature will be explained with reference to Figure 2. The CPU of the server 50 acquires information on a thermographic image of the pigpen from the pigpen terminal 30 (S1).

The CPU of the server 50 obtains the body temperature information of the pigs from the thermographic image (S2). As shown in FIG. 11, the thermographic image shows the average temperature and maximum temperature of the subject, as well as the body temperature of each pig, indicated by a color on the screen. The body temperature of each pig to be obtained by the CPU of the server 50 is determined appropriately according to the situation. For example, the average body temperature (37.6°C in the case of the superheated steam heater in FIG. 11) may be used. Also, for example, the maximum temperature (41.0°C in the case of the superheated steam heater in FIG. 11) may be used, since there are many cases where the body temperature becomes too high. Also, for example, the body temperature of the weakest pig may be grasped and used as the body temperature of the pig to be obtained. By using the body temperature of the weakest pig as the body temperature of the pig obtained by the CPU, it is possible to maintain the appropriate body temperature of many pigs in the pigpen, including the weakest pigs.

The CPU of the server 50 judges whether the pig's body temperature is within a specified range (S3). The specified range is a temperature range that is considered to be appropriate if it is within that range. For example, the specified range for pig's body temperatures is set to 39°C to 40°C. If the pig's body temperature is not within the specified range, the amount of superheated steam generated is adjusted (S4). The program for adjusting the amount of superheated steam generated is as shown in Figure 6. If the pig's body temperature is within the specified range, the program ends.

The program for maintaining an appropriate room temperature is explained with reference to Figure 3. The CPU of the server 50 acquires information on the room temperature of the pigpen from the pigpen terminal (S5).

The CPU of the server 50 judges whether the indoor temperature of the pigpen is within a specified range (S6). The specified range is a temperature range that is considered to be an appropriate temperature if it is within that range. For example, the specified range for the indoor temperature of the pigpen is set to 25°C to 28°C. If the indoor temperature of the pigpen is not within the specified range, the amount of superheated steam generated is adjusted (S7). The program for adjusting the amount of superheated steam generated is as shown in Figure 6. If the indoor temperature of the pigpen is within the specified range, the program ends.

The mechanism for adjusting the amount of superheated steam generated according to the present application will be explained with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6. Figure 4 shows a superheated steam generator 60. Figure 4(a) shows the entire superheated steam generator, and Figure 4(b) shows one of the superheated steam generator units 62 indicated by the symbols a, b, c, d, e, and f in (a). Each of the superheated steam generator units indicated by the symbols a, b, c, d, e, and f has the same mechanism as that shown in Figure 4(b).

The superheated steam generator 60 is installed in the pigpen. The superheated steam generator 60 is equipped with a superheated steam heater terminal 10 (Figure 1). As shown in Figure 4 (a), the superheated steam generator 60 takes in air from the pigpen and sends it into the device with the power of a fan 61. The superheated steam generator 60 is equipped with multiple superheated steam generator units 62. The superheated steam generator shown in the figure is equipped with six superheated steam generator units 62, labeled a to f. The superheated steam generated by the superheated steam generator units 62 is collected and released to the outside via a fan 68. As shown in Figure 4 (b), the superheated steam generator unit 62 is equipped with a coil chamber 66 and a heating chamber 65 inside. The coil chamber 66 is equipped with a coil, and the coil is heated by electricity. The superheated steam generator is equipped with a mechanism for supplying water from the outside (not shown), and the heating chamber 65 contains the water taken in (63). The heating chamber 65 is adjacent to the coil chamber 66, and the water 63 in the heating chamber 65 is heated by the coil in the coil chamber to generate steam. The heating chamber 65 extends in the vertical direction, and the water 63 does not fill the entire heating chamber. The steam generated by heating is contained in the upper part 64 of the heating chamber 65. The generated steam is further heated in the upper part 64 of the heating chamber 65 by mixing with the air heated by the coil, and becomes superheated steam.

The air inside the pig house is sterilized as it is heated in the coil room, and odorous and pathogenic bacteria are killed. In this way, the air inside the house is circulated while being sterilized as it passes through the superheated steam heating device. As a result, the air is purified and odors are eliminated.

The coil in the coil chamber 66 of each superheated steam generator unit 62 can be turned on and off independently for each unit.

Figure 5 shows the amount of superheated steam generated and the changes in the pigs' body temperatures.

Figure 5 (a) shows the pig's body temperature changing when all heating coils are turned on or off. Pigs are not good at regulating their body temperature, and changes in the outside air temperature immediately affect their body temperature. For this reason, when the power to all coil chambers is turned off and the amount of superheated steam generated is reduced to zero, the body temperature drops from 39°C to 37°C. When the power to all coil chambers is turned on and the amount of superheated steam generated is increased, the body temperature rises from 37°C to 39°C. Such fluctuations in body temperature are stressful for the pig and are not good for its health.

In Figure 5(b), rather than turning all of the coil chambers on and off, the six individual heating coils are turned on in the order shown in the graph, with five coils on, six coils on, five coils on, four coils on, four coils on, and so on, with the number of coils turned on varying, but one of the coils is always on, so that superheated steam continues to be generated. In this case, as is clear from the graph showing the pig's body temperature following this, the pig's body temperature remains unchanged at 39°C. This means that the pig does not feel stressed by changes in body temperature.

In other words, while one countermeasure to cases where the pigs' body temperatures have risen too high due to excessive use of the superheated steam heater is to temporarily stop heating using the superheated steam heater, it is not advisable to completely stop generating superheated steam.

In this application, when regulating the body temperature of the pig, only some of the heating coils are turned on to reduce the number of heating coils in operation. For example, only the heating coils marked with diagonal lines in Figure 4 (coils a and b) are turned on. In this way, even if the amount of superheated steam generated increases or decreases, a situation in which no superheated steam is generated can be avoided.

One way to adjust the amount of superheated steam generated is to reduce the number of revolutions of the fan 61 to reduce the amount of air sent into the superheated steam generator, but as explained below, this is also undesirable. Reducing the number of revolutions of the fan 61 to reduce the amount of air sent into the superheated steam generator reduces the amount of air sent into each coil chamber 66. The superheated steam generated by each superheated steam generator unit 62 is superheated by the air that has been warmed by passing through the coil chamber. For this reason, if the amount of air that has been warmed by passing through the coil chamber decreases, the steam will not be heated sufficiently, and the temperature of the superheated steam will decrease, resulting in a deterioration in quality. The amount of superheated steam will also decrease.

In this application, when regulating the body temperature of the pigs, the volume of air in the pigpen sent into the superheated steam heating device is kept constant. As a result, the temperature of the superheated steam generated from each individual superheated steam generator can be maintained at a predetermined high temperature without changing, and a predetermined amount of good quality superheated steam can be obtained. When the volume of air in the pigpen sent into the superheated steam heating device is kept constant, even if one of the superheated steam generator units 62 has its heating coil powered off, for example, the air passes through with the same force as when the power is on.

The superheated steam generation rate adjustment program will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. The superheated steam generation rate adjustment program shown in FIG. 6 starts when it is determined in S3 of the proper body temperature maintenance program that the pig's body temperature is not within the specified range (S4). The CPU of the server 50 acquires the temperature difference between the current body temperature and the upper or lower limit of the specified range (S8). The temperature difference can be acquired on a computer using existing calculation software. The CPU of the server 50 determines the heating coil based on the proper heating coil information (for body temperature) (FIG. 7) (S9). That is, for example, if the pig's body temperature is 41°C, the specified range for pig's body temperature is set to 39°C to 40°C, so the difference from the upper limit of the specified range is +1°C. According to the proper heating coil information (for body temperature), if the temperature difference is +1°C, the coils to be heated are determined to be a, b, and c.

The CPU of the server 50 turns off the power to the coils other than the coil to be heated (S10). That is, in the example of a body temperature of 41°C, the power to coils d, e, and f is turned off. The task of turning off the power to coils d, e, and f can be performed on a computer using existing methods without human intervention.

If the CPU of the server 50 determines in S6 of the appropriate room temperature maintenance program that the room temperature is not within the specified range (S7), it uses the appropriate heating coil information (for room temperature) (Figure 8) and turns off the power to the necessary coils using a program similar to that shown in Figure 6. Details of the program are omitted.

[Experimental Results]
Figure 9 shows the numerical results of a comparative experiment between a pig house using a superheated steam heater and a pig house using a normal heater.

In the case of using the superheated steam heater, 40-day-old weaned pigs were raised for approximately 60 days from February 8, 2019. The average room temperature was 27.1°C, the average humidity was 70.0%, the odor intensity was 700 to 800 when the outdoor air temperature was zero, the average body temperature of the pigs was 38.0°C, the weight gain was 441g per day, and the accident rate was 2 deaths out of 379 pigs (0.005%). On the first day of the experiment, the piglets were clinging to each other and staying still in the corners of the pigpen before using the superheated steam heater, but about 5 minutes after the superheated steam heater was started, they were widely scattered throughout the pigpen and were seen to be moving actively and eating feed. After that, they continued to move actively and ate a lot of feed.

In the case where the superheated steam heater was not used, 46-day-old weaned pigs were raised for approximately 60 days from February 14, 2019. The average temperature was 26.8°C, the average indoor humidity was 76.0%, the odor intensity was 1,150 when the outdoor air temperature was zero, the average body temperature of the pigs was 36.0°C, the weight gain per day was 403g, and the accident rate was 5 deaths out of 385 pigs (0.013%). The piglets were listless and remained motionless, huddled together on the floor heating in the corner of the room, sticking to each other.

Figure 10 shows photographs of the results of a comparative experiment between a pigpen using a superheated steam heater and a pigpen using a normal heater. In the pigpen using a superheated steam heater, the pigs can be seen scattering around the pigpen and being very active. In the pigpen without a superheated steam heater, the pigs are less active and scattering around the pigpen less.

Figure 11 shows the results of a comparative experiment using a thermography screen between a pigpen using a superheated steam heater and a pigpen using a normal heater. In the pigpen using a superheated steam heater, the pigs' body temperatures averaged 37.6°C, with a maximum temperature of 41.6°C. In the pigpen using a normal heater, the pigs' body temperatures averaged 35.3°C, with a maximum temperature of 36.7°C.

Claims (11)

A heating means for warming livestock using superheated steam;
a body temperature information acquiring means for acquiring body temperature information of the livestock heated by the heating means;
The method further includes a superheated steam generation amount changing means for changing the amount of superheated steam generated so that the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquiring means approaches a predetermined body temperature of the livestock, which is a body temperature at which the livestock can be kept healthy ,
In the superheated steam generation amount changing means,
The amount of superheated steam generated can be changed as follows:
The temperature information acquisition means is configured to acquire the temperature of the livestock without using any other means than a means for making the acquired temperature of the livestock approach the predetermined specified temperature of the livestock.
Livestock rearing system. The livestock breeding system according to claim 1 , further comprising a means for preventing the body temperature of the livestock from exceeding a prescribed upper body temperature limit . 2. The livestock breeding system according to claim 1, wherein the body temperature information acquisition means acquires the body temperature information of the livestock by taking a thermographic image of the livestock. The superheated steam generation amount change means
The livestock breeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of superheated steam generated is changed depending on the temperature difference between the specified body temperature of the livestock and the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquisition means. The superheated steam generation amount change means
The livestock breeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of water vapor generated is changed by changing the amount of heat used to heat the water vapor. The livestock breeding system according to claim 5, characterized in that the heating means is equipped with multiple coils for heating the air in the livestock house, and the amount of heat used to heat the water vapor can be changed by changing the number of coils to be heated. The livestock breeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that the superheated steam is constantly generated and the amount of generated superheated steam does not reach zero. 2. The livestock breeding system according to claim 1, wherein the livestock are warmed by far infrared rays generated from the superheated steam. 9. The livestock breeding system according to claim 1, wherein the livestock is a pig. A heating mechanism that uses superheated steam to warm livestock;
a body temperature information acquisition mechanism for acquiring body temperature information of the livestock heated by the heating mechanism;
and a superheated steam generation amount changing mechanism that changes the amount of superheated steam generated so that the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquiring mechanism approaches a predetermined body temperature of the livestock , which is a body temperature at which the livestock can be kept healthy ,
In the superheated steam generation amount changing mechanism,
The amount of superheated steam generated can be changed as follows:
The temperature information acquisition mechanism is characterized in that the temperature information acquisition mechanism is performed without using any other means than a means for making the acquired temperature of the livestock approach the predetermined specified temperature of the livestock.
Livestock farming equipment. A heating process that uses superheated steam to warm livestock;
a body temperature information acquiring step of acquiring body temperature information of the livestock warmed by the heating step;
and a superheated steam generation amount changing step of changing the amount of superheated steam generated so that the acquired body temperature of the livestock acquired by the body temperature information acquiring step approaches a predetermined body temperature of the livestock, which is a body temperature at which the livestock can be kept healthy ,
In the step of changing the amount of superheated steam generated,
The amount of superheated steam generated can be changed as follows:
A livestock raising method characterized in that the body temperature information acquisition process is carried out without using any means other than a means for bringing the acquired body temperature of the livestock close to the predetermined specified body temperature of the livestock .

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