Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Poultry house design and orientation are critical to regulate the microclimate inside the shed, particularly in tropical regions where heat stress is a major factor limiting poultry productivity.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements and their relationship:
- Assertion (A): In tropical regions (such as India), poultry houses must be built with their long axis running from East to West.
This orientation ensures that the closed end walls face the rising and setting sun, while the long, open sides face North and South.
This is correct.
- Reason (R): An East-West orientation prevents direct sunlight (and solar radiation) from entering the shed through the open sides during the morning and afternoon.
This minimizes radiant heat load inside the house, helping keep the birds cooler and reducing the risk of mortality from heat stroke.
If the house were oriented North-South, direct sunlight would sweep through the entire length of the shed, causing severe heat stress.
Therefore, Reason (R) is correct, and it serves as the correct physical explanation for the housing orientation recommended in Assertion (A).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).