Contact Details
Dr Neil Barrett
Manager
T 61 2 9659 079
W www.moni-tec.com...
E neilb@moni-tec.com...
MoniTec
Optimisation of Environmental Conditions for Animal Husbandry
Australia’s chicken production is expected to receive a huge boost from an innovative environmental control system that optimises environmental conditions for poultry farms.
The system is based on a unique and versatile platform technology developed by Sydney company MoniTec, and it is easily adapted to a wide range of applications.
Environmental control systems for animal production farms are not new, but MoniTec’s solution takes it to a new level of performance. Using a set of intelligent decision algorithms developed in-house, the system monitors the ‘perceived’ temperature of the chicken house, taking into account temperature, humidity, and wind velocity.
The ‘perceived’ temperature is the temperature that the chickens feel, rather than the temperature directly measured within the chicken house.
MoniTec’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Neil Barrett said the system allowed the optimum environmental conditions for the chickens to be maintained – increasing production efficiencies by up to five per cent.
“It reduces morbidity, it reduces the farmer’s time needed to maintain the environment at the desired level with conventional systems, and it improves the general well-being of the chickens,” he said.
“It is a highly specialised product, and we are already seeing very consistent results for the farmers who are using it.”
The system is currently being used in New South Wales by Inghams Enterprises, and negotiations are underway with potential distributors throughout Australia.
Dr Barrett said the system had the potential to be adapted for other animal production, as well as for people in living and working environments. An Australian air-conditioning manufacturer, Actron Air, is working with MoniTec to adapt the technology for use with air conditioning units.
“Initiatives in the long term may involve working with commercial fish farms to improve production efficiencies utilising new sensor arrays,” he said.
“Also the control methodologies are relevant to robotic applications requiring enhanced intelligence for emergency work in dangerous or difficult environments or situations.”
Dr Barrett said the company planned to export the system once it was established in Australia.
“We believe our platform technology has huge potential throughout the world,” he said.
The system is based on a unique and versatile platform technology developed by Sydney company MoniTec, and it is easily adapted to a wide range of applications.
Environmental control systems for animal production farms are not new, but MoniTec’s solution takes it to a new level of performance. Using a set of intelligent decision algorithms developed in-house, the system monitors the ‘perceived’ temperature of the chicken house, taking into account temperature, humidity, and wind velocity.
The ‘perceived’ temperature is the temperature that the chickens feel, rather than the temperature directly measured within the chicken house.
MoniTec’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Neil Barrett said the system allowed the optimum environmental conditions for the chickens to be maintained – increasing production efficiencies by up to five per cent.
“It reduces morbidity, it reduces the farmer’s time needed to maintain the environment at the desired level with conventional systems, and it improves the general well-being of the chickens,” he said.
“It is a highly specialised product, and we are already seeing very consistent results for the farmers who are using it.”
The system is currently being used in New South Wales by Inghams Enterprises, and negotiations are underway with potential distributors throughout Australia.
Dr Barrett said the system had the potential to be adapted for other animal production, as well as for people in living and working environments. An Australian air-conditioning manufacturer, Actron Air, is working with MoniTec to adapt the technology for use with air conditioning units.
“Initiatives in the long term may involve working with commercial fish farms to improve production efficiencies utilising new sensor arrays,” he said.
“Also the control methodologies are relevant to robotic applications requiring enhanced intelligence for emergency work in dangerous or difficult environments or situations.”
Dr Barrett said the company planned to export the system once it was established in Australia.
“We believe our platform technology has huge potential throughout the world,” he said.