Usefulness of an aluminized polyester film for reducing heat in polyethylene calf hutches

This study determined the efficacy of a radiant barrier material used in the construction industry to moderate summer temperatures in polyethylene calf hutches. The cover consisted of a single layer of two-sided reflective aluminized polyester film with a center polyester scrim reinforcement (reflectivity = 95%). At each of two dairies, six hutches containing a young calf were either uncovered (control) or had reflective covers across the top and sides of the hutch, leaving the front, back, and 1.2 × 1.8-m attached outdoor wire pen exposed. Duplicate loggers mounted 20 cm above the flooring in the center of each hutch recorded interior temperature at 30-min intervals over 22 days during late August to early September. The mean daily interior peak temperatures in each of the hutches over 21 days of observation were significantly less (P < 0.001) in the hutches with reflective covers (37.48 ± 0.14 °C) than in the uncovered hutches (41.65 ± 0.45 °C) and did not differ (P = 0.77) between dairies. The mean daily interior peak temperatures in each of the hutches over the warmest 10 days of observation were significantly less (P < 0.001) in hutches with reflective covers (40.15 °C ± 0.16) than in the uncovered hutches (44.93 ± 0.47 °C). The mean interior ceiling temperatures in each of the hutches over 4 days of observation were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the hutches with reflective covers (37.82 ± 0.36 °C) than in the uncovered hutches (46.89 ± 0.47 °C). The reflective cover used in this study moderated interior hutch temperatures but showed signs of delamination after 22 days and was relatively expensive, so more suitable material needs to be identified.