{"684009":{"#nid":"684009","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GTRI Develops Climate, Moisture Control Technologies to Optimize Poultry House Operations","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, where chickens are the biggest agricultural product with an annual state economic impact of over \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nifa.usda.gov\/about-nifa\/blogs\/georgia-extension-supporting-county-governments-poultry-industry\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E$28 billion\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, maintaining the right temperature and moisture levels in a poultry house is crucial for bird health and efficiency. However, this can be challenging due to changing weather, bird density and size, and high energy costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is addressing these challenges with two technologies: the Broiler House Integrated Guided-Motion Excreta Saturation System (BHIG-MESS) and a protective chicken enclosure known as \u201cchicken bubble.\u201d BHIG-MESS addresses moisture concerns by removing poultry waste from the house regularly and automatically, which helps reduce ventilation needs and energy consumption. \u201cChicken bubble\u201d uses an inflatable barrier to reduce the volume of air that needs conditioning, lowering energy expenses that are among the highest costs for farmers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the biggest challenges for poultry houses and farmers is maintaining the internal environment of the house,\u201d said GTRI Principal Research Scientist Alex Samoylov.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cWhile issues related to feed and water have been more or less resolved, creating an optimal environment within the house is still very much an art rather than an exact science.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPoultry house energy costs are primarily driven by heating fuel and electricity for essential needs like keeping chickens warm, providing adequate lighting and powering ventilation systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHow well farmers manage their energy costs directly impacts the health and productivity of the birds \u2013 and by extension, their profitability,\u201d Samoylov said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBHIG-MESS consists of a specially designed tiled floor where manure falls through into a tray beneath, allowing for daily removal. In traditional houses, wood shavings absorb manure and it remains in place for the flock\u0027s entire stay. By clearing out the manure every day, BHIG-MESS significantly reduces moisture levels inside the house and, consequently, the need for intensive ventilation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201cchicken bubble\u201d system\u2019s inflatable technology reduces the amount of air that needs to be ventilated and conditioned. By displacing a significant portion of air inside the house, farmers could cut these air requirements by at least half, Samoylov said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTRI has conducted trials of BHIG-MESS at the University of Georgia\u2019s (UGA) Poultry Experimental Center. During the trials, researchers replaced half of the floor with GTRI\u2019s system and the other half remained traditional wood shavings. The birds were raised for seven weeks and GTRI collected data on manure accumulation, bird health and weight distribution.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey observed that the birds on GTRI\u2019s flooring system had significantly fewer instances of footpad dermatitis, a condition in chickens where the skin on the bottom of their feet becomes inflamed and irritated, often caused by wet and dirty litter. The system also demonstrated that it did not cause more chicken deaths compared to traditional methods. Chickens on the new system also had similar weight patterns and, in some cases, were healthier than those raised on the traditional wood shavings.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTRI plans to test \u201cchicken bubble\u201d in 2026, starting in controlled environments before moving to larger poultry houses. This project has been supported by GTRI\u2019s Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP).Once more testing has been completed, GTRI plans to partner with commercial entities that would manufacture and distribute these technologies. Samoylov said his team envisions a partnership where these companies would handle production and installation while GTRI continues focusing on further research and technical refinement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur focus is on enhancing sustainability and profitability for the poultry industry,\u201d he said. \u201cBy creating innovative solutions, we aim to secure food supply and help growers thrive.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriter: \u003Cstrong\u003EAnna Akins\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPhotos: \u003Cstrong\u003ESean McNeil\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAdditional Photo Credit: \u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Samoylov\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGTRI Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr\u003EAtlanta, Georgia\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about GTRI, visit: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute | GTRI\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI is developing two technologies to address climate and moisture control challenges in poultry houses - innovations that could lead to healthier flocks and reduce costs for farmers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"GTRI is developing two technologies to address climate and moisture control challenges in poultry houses - innovations that could lead to healthier flocks and reduce costs for farmers. "}],"uid":"35874","created_gmt":"2025-08-20 17:51:15","changed_gmt":"2025-08-21 19:20:19","author":"Anna Akins","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677756":{"id":"677756","type":"image","title":"PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, chickens make up the biggest agricultural product with a whopping annual state economic impact of over $28 billion. However, it can be extremely challenging - and costly - for poultry farmers to maintain optimal temperature and moisture levels inside poultry houses. By addressing this challenge, GTRI\u0027s two technologies could result in healthier birds and save farmers money.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of a chicken. ","file":{"fid":"261690","name":"PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1583847,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg?itok=Moy9DDlz"}},"677757":{"id":"677757","type":"image","title":"PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDuring recent trials at UGA, GTRI observed that birds on GTRI\u0027s BHIG-MESS flooring system (on left) had fewer instances of footpad dermatitis along with similar weight patterns and better overall health in some cases than those on raised traditional wood shavings (Photo Credit: Alex Samoylov).\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of chickens in a poultry house. ","file":{"fid":"261691","name":"PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2606006,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg?itok=ZpQS4Gu2"}},"677755":{"id":"677755","type":"image","title":"2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI Principal Research Scientist and project lead Alex Samoylov stands next to a prototype he has developed of GTRI\u0027s \u0022chicken bubble\u0022 technology. \u0022Chicken bubble\u0022 reduces the volume of air in poultry houses that needs conditioning, lowering energy expenses that are among the highest costs for farmers. GTRI plans to test this technology out in the field sometime next year (Photo Credit: Sean McNeil, GTRI).\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of GTRI\u0027s \u0022chicken bubble\u0022 technology ","file":{"fid":"261689","name":"2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17452917,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG?itok=0yzITy1Y"}},"677754":{"id":"677754","type":"image","title":"2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI Principal Research Scientist and project lead Alex Samoylov (left) and GTRI Research Engineer Parth Mandrekar (right) have developed a BHIG-MESS prototype and are seen working on it here (Photo Credit: Sean McNeil, GTRI). BHIG-MESS addresses moisture concerns in poultry houses by removing waste regularly and automatically, which helps reduce ventilation needs and energy consumption.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of two GTRI researchers working on the BHIG-MESS prototype. ","file":{"fid":"261688","name":"2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17261930,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG?itok=EsoxuKQc"}}},"media_ids":["677756","677757","677755","677754"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"44641","name":"institute communications"},{"id":"415","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"23681","name":"Food Processing Technology"},{"id":"125571","name":"poultry industry"},{"id":"11426","name":"Georgia Economy"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAuthor: Anna Akins \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:anna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eanna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTRI media contact info: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["anna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}