A thermal balance model for livestock buildings for use in climate change studies

A model for estimating the mean internal temperature of livestock buildings was developed for use in climate change studies. The model, which calculates a steady-state heat balance every hour, combines wind, artificial ventilation, thermal buoyancy effects and solar radiation, based on the established theoretical work. The temperatures of the building are solved analytically. Results are presented which compare the model with experimental measurements made in a naturally ventilated building. Predictions give a good representation with mean absolute error of 0.41 K. (C) 1998 Silsoe Research Institute.