Abstract:
The increase in world's population associated to the lack of grazing areas for expansion of extensive animal production leads to search for optimizing space and consequently to the adequate use of life support systems. In the other hand, when increasing animal stoking densities or having animals housed under hot weather conditions, heat load inside the houses may reach undesirable values affecting production; while the emission of effluents and gases may drive sustainability into its limits. A main question raised nowadays is related to the future of animal protein commerce due to the new demands of consumers, including welfare of the animals. Animal housing must provide an interior environment that meets the animal's thermal comfort needs, which is an important factor in producing high quality animal protein. This paper presents a review on environmental aspects of animal housing.