teo wee chai bachelor of engineering with honors (civil ... on suitable habitat for...

STUDY ON SUITABLE HABITAT FOR SWIFTLET FARMING

TEO WEE CHAI

Bachelor of Engineering with Honors (Civil Engineering)

2009

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS

JUDUL: STUDY ON SUITABLE HABITAT FOR SWIFTLET FARMING

SESI PENGAJIAN :2008/2009

Saya, TEO WEE CHAI (HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis * ini disimpan di Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. 2. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat

salinan untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja. 3. Membuat pendigitan untuk membanguankan Pangkalan Data Kandungan Tempatan. 4. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat

salinan tesis ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi. 5. ** Sila tandakan (√) di kotak yang berkenaan. SULIT (Mengandungi maklumat yand berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972). TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan). TIDAK TERHAD Disahkan oleh ______________________ ______________________ (TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA) Alamat tetap: No. 180 Lane 6 Dr. Siti Halipah Ibrahim Star Garden Green Road Nama Penyelia 93150 Kuching Sarawak Tarikh: 17 APRIL 2009 Tarikh: __________ CATATAN * Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah, Sarjana dan Sarjana Muda ** Jika tesis ini SULIT dan TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT dan TERHAD.

The following Final Year Project Report:

Title : STUDY ON SUITABLE HABITAT FOR SWIFTLET FARMING

Name : TEO WEE CHAI

Matric No. : 15835

Has been read and approved by:

___________________________ _________________ DR. SITI HALIPAH IBRAHIM Date Supervisor

THE STUDY ON SUITABLE HABITAT FOR SWIFTLET FARMING

TEO WEE CHAI

This project is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

(Civil Engineering)

Faculty of Engineering UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

2008

i

“Dedicated to my beloved family...”

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This report could not have been written without Dr. Siti Halipah Ibrahim who

served as my final year project supervisor. I would like to take this opportunity to

thanks and appreciation Dr. Siti Halipah Ibrahim for patiently guided me through the

project process, her ideas, support and motivation. I am greatly indebted to her for

her encouragement and incessant help to achieve more than I expected of myself.

My sincere appreciation also goes to our building services lab technicians and

members under supervision of Dr. Siti Halipah Ibrahim, Mr. Rozaini Ahmad for his

guidance and help when using the apparatus and useful technique during data

collection, members Mr. Adam Hussary bin Ahmad, Mr. Mohamad Khairun bin

Ishak and Miss Wennie Blantaw anak Enggu.

Thanks to all my dearest classmates and freinds for always be there and

support me. Last but not least, my beloved family who always give me

encouragement and supporting through my life. Thank you.

iii

ABSTRACT

Swiftlet farming is a new industry in Sarawak as compared to other long-

standing industries such as rubber, palm oil and timber. It is one of the businesses that

involved a small capital investment and it can generate enormous returns in future.

Swiftlet farming involves the conversion of human-centric building into structures for

swiftlet. The purpose of this conversion is to let Swiftlet for nesting and protect them.

The design and construction of such building will also helps to accommodate swiftlets’

population. Therefore, in order to increase the productivity of bird nest, study of the

suitable habitat for swiftlet should be done thoroughly. Environment factors such as

temperature, humidity, ventilation and light intensity are the keys for a successful

swiftlet farm house. Internal temperature of building should maintain from 26⁰C to

35⁰C, humidity from 80% to 90%, low air velocity and light intensity less than 5 LUX.

Proper ventilation and installation of humidifier could help the building to achieve the

desirable range of environment factors. Location of structure will also be considered

from direct sunlight direction to reduce the internal temperature. Only licensed swiftlet

farming is legal.

iv

ABSTRAK

Pemeliharaan burung layang-layang adalah satu industri yang baru di Sarawak

jika dibanding dengan bidang-bidang industri yang lain seperti getah, kelapa sawit dan

kayu. Ia adalah satu perniagaan yang hanya memerlukan modal yang kecil and akan

mendapat keuntungan yang lumayan di masa depan. Pemeliharaan burung layang-

layang ini termasuk penukaran bangunan buatan manusia ke banguan pemeliharaan

burang layang-layang. Tujuannya adalah untuk kediaman dan memberi perlindungan

kepada burung layang-layang. Rekabentuk dan perbangunan bangunan tersebut juga

boleh menambahkan populasi burung layang-layang. Oleh sebab demikian,

pengetahuan berkaitan dengan habitat burung layang-layang dijalankan untuk

menambahkan produktiviti sarang burung. Faktor seperti suhu dalaman, kelembapan,

ventilasi dan keterangan cahaya merupakan faktor penting dalam pemeliharaan burung

layang-layang yang berjaya. Suhu dalaman mesti kekal pada lingkungan 26⁰C ke 35⁰C,

kelembapan dari 80% hinnga 90%, kadar kelajuan anjin and rendah dan keterangan

cahaya yang kurang daripada 5 LUX. Ventilasi yang sesuai serta pemasangan mesin

kelembapan boleh tolong mencapai lindungan faktor sekitar yang diharapkan. Arah

struktur yang menhadapi arah cahaya matahari juga perlu dipertimbangkan untuk

mengelakkan suhu dalaman yang tinggi. Pemerliharaan burung layang-layang hanya

disahkan dengan menpunyai lessen tersebut.

vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

APPROVAL LETTER

APPROVAL SHEET

TITLE PAGE

DEDICATION i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii

ABSTRACT iii

ABSTRAK iv

TABLE OF CONTENT v

LIST OF TABLES ix

LIST OF FIGURES x

LIST OF SUBCRIPTS AND SYMBOL xii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.0 General 1

1.0.1 History of bird nest 3

1.0.2 History of swiftlet farming 3

1.0.3 Swiftlet farming and the economy impact 7

1.0.4 Suitable habitation 10

1.1 Objectives of study 12

vii

1.4 Scope of studies 13

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 General 14

2.1 Air temperature 15

2.2 Air velocity 18

2.3 Relative humidity 19

2.4 Light intensity 22

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.0 General 23

3.1 Globe thermometer 26

3.2 ThermaHygrometer 27

3.3 Anemometer 28

3.4 Data logger 28

3.5 Photometer 31

CHAPTER 4 : RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.0 General 36

4.1 Temperature

4.1.1 Data logger 38

4.1.2 Globe thermometer 51

viii

4.2 Humidity 53

4.3 Air Velocity 55

4.4 Light intensity

4.4.1 Day time (8am – 12pm) 57

4.4.2 Evening time (12pm – 6pm) 59

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION

5.1 Condition 1 61

5.2 Condition 2 62

5.3 Condition 3 63

5.4 Condition 4 65

5.5 Light intensity 66

5.6 Air Velocity 66

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1 Conclusion 68

6.2 Recommendation 69

REFERENCE 71

APPENDIX 72

ix

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

Table 1.1 Comparison between Swiftlet farming and palm oil

plantation industry 9

Table 3.1 Methodology chart 25

Table 4.1 Channel location 39

x

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

Figure 1.1 A.Fuciphagus is only available within the circled

countries 2

Figure 1.2 Example of shop lot converted swiftlet farming 4

Figure 1.3 Completed swiftlet house and ready to be operate

(Batu Pahat) 5

Figure 1.4 Another successful shop lot converted bird house

(Mukah) 5

Figure 1.5 Swiftlet building completed on agricultural land 6

Figure 3.1 Photo of selected site 24

Figure 3.2 Globe Thermometer 26

Figure 3.3 ThermoHydrometer 27

Figure 3.4 Anemometer 28

Figure 3.5 Data Logger 29

Figure 3.6 Thermocouple 29

Figure 3.7 Photometer 31

Figure 4.1 Location of Channel from Data Logger 38

Figure 4.2 Graph of CH01 40




xi














Figure 4.19 Location of globe thermometer 51

Figure 4.20 Graph from globe thermometer 52

Figure 4.21 Location of humidity record 53

Figure 4.22 Graph of humidity 54

Figure 4.23 Location of air velocity check 55

Figure 4.24 Graph of air velocity 56

Figure 4.25 Light intensity during day time 57

Figure 4.26 Light intensity during evening 59

Figure 6.1 Ventilation layout 70

xii

LIST OF SUBSCRIPTS AND SYMBOL

% percentage

kg kilogram

⁰C Celsius

RM Ringgit Malaysia

⁰F Fahrenheit

CH Channel

LUX SI unit of luminance and luminous emittance

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

Swiftlets is a type of birds that similar to swallows, sparrows and house

swifts but they are not closely related to each other. Swallows are often found in

woody structures, forest and coastal areas. Sparrows are one of the few species of

birds that associated with human inhabitants in city or town and they nest in cavities.

Swiftlets are short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground. They are

only perching vertically on surfaces or their nesting planks. Currently there are 24

species of swiftlets recorded in the world. The five most common species of

swiftlets found in Malaysia and Borneo Island are H.Gigas, C. Esculent (White belly

swifts), Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus Balasiensis), A.Fuciphagus and A. Maximu.

(Lim, 2006). Swiftlets are insectivores; hymenopterans and dipterans being the most

abundant prey (Lourie and Tompkins, 2000).

Aerodramus Fuciphagus is the Swiftlet species that will build white edible

nest. It consists of 90-95% of edible nest and 5-10% of feathers and purities.

Matured birds’ nests will be harvested and sell to the market at handsome price. The

p

t

p

n

p

i

A

price of the

traditionally

processing w

nests are the

The

produces ed

in Figure 1.1

Figu

(Sourc

“Reg

Services sin

Avian Influe

e nest is ba

y sold to m

where impur

en sold at tw

beauty of t

dible bird nes

1.

ure 1.1: A.Fu

ce from Mak

gular survei

nce the year

enza or Bird

ased on the

middlemen,

rities are pai

ice the origi

the equation

sts is only av

uciphagus is

ke Millions f

illance tests

r 2000 have

d Flu.” (Lim

2

e quality an

and most

nstakingly r

nal price.

n is that thi

vailable in th

only availab

from Swiftle

s conducted

all come b

m, 2006). S

nd size of t

of them ar

removed usin

is particular

he region of

ble within th

et Farming: A

d by the D

back negativ

wiftlet are n

the nest. T

re sent to I

ng tweezers.

r species of

f Southeast A

he circled cou

A Definitive

Department o

ve for Newc

non-migrator

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Indonesia f

. The cleane

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Asia as show

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of Veterina

astle Diseas

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are

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hat

wn

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se,

not

3

share flying or nesting space with other species of birds. Hence their chance of

contracting the bird flu virus is minimal. Swiftlet are constantly in the air because of

their short legs and never perch anyway except their own nesting place. Swiftlet also

do not share the same food and water sources with other birds or animals. They

drink water droplets in the atmosphere and feed on insects flying mid air.

1.0.1 History of bird nest

In Malaysia, the most famous place of bird’s nest is Niah Cave of Sarawak,

the discovery of ancient tools together with ceramic from the Tang and Sung

Dynasties in Niah Caves suggested that Chinese merchants during those times may

have traveled to East Malaysia for bird’s nest trading. Based on early historical

records, the consumption of bird nests can be dated back as far as one hundred and

fifty centuries ago during the Tang Dynasty Period (618-907 A.D.). Bird’s nest

claimed to be nutrition and good for skin development. The common peoples in

China were only made aware of their benefits 400 years ago, during the Ming and

Qing Dynasty.

1.0.2 History of Swiftlet farming

In Malaysia, the earlier 1980’s, Swiftlets started to nest in an abandoned

wooden homes in coastal areas especially Sitiawan, Pekan and Teluk Intan. It was

subsequently found that Swiftlet urbanization is humane and economical and also

h

r

a

h

l

b

helps to sus

remain in th

acceptable

habitation en

lot converted

building on

stain the pop

heir ancestra

of urban e

nvironment

d swiftlet fa

agricultural

Figure

pulation of s

al breeding g

environment

to swiftlets.

rming and F

land.

1.2: Exampl

4

swiftlets. S

grounds whic

that provi

. Figure 1.2

Figure 1.3 an

le of shop lo

o fewer and

ch is the nat

des safety

2 and 1.4 sh

nd 1.5 are ex

ot converted

d fewer swif

tural caves b

as well as

hows the exa

xample of sw

swiftlet farm

ftlets chose

because of th

s the suitab

ample of sho

wiftlet farmin

ming

to

he

ble

op

ng

Fig

F

gure 1.3: Co

Figure 1.4: A

mpleted swi

Another succ

5

iftlet house a

cessful shop

and ready to

lot converte

be operate (

ed bird house

(Batu Pahat)

e (Mukah)

)

t

m

t

o

m

u

Indo

the first few

modification

that the swif

The

open burnin

millions of S

In Ea

until now ve

slowly expe

1500 swiftle

structure and

Figure

nesian is the

w Swiftlet

ns were done

ftlets coloniz

1990’s fore

ng has creat

Swiftlet mig

ast Malaysia

ery successf

ended to Sibu

et farming ho

d on agricult

1.5: Swiftlet

e pioneer of

farms origin

e in these ho

zed them.

st fire in Ind

ted a golden

rating to We

a, the earlies

ful. It is the

u, Miri and

ouses around

tural land. S

6

t building co

f custom bu

nated from

ouses and it w

donesia resu

n opportunit

est Malaysia

st swiftlet far

en expended

those rural a

d Sarawak w

Sarawak was

ompleted on

ilt Swiftlet f

East Java

was believed

ulted heavy h

ty for Mala

a.

rming was d

d to Mukah,

areas. Until

which was do

s believed to

agricultural

farms. It is

in 1880. P

d that it was

haze, this he

aysia. The d

done at Bintu

Sarikei and

l now, there

one on shop

o have this ty

land

believed th

Practically n

by sheer luc

eavy haze an

disaster force

ulu and it w

d Kuching an

were rough

p lot converte

ype of swiftl

hat

no

ck

nd

ed

as

nd

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ed

let

7

species in the year before swiftlet farming. There are several places such as Bau and

the famous Baram where this A.Fuciphagus swiftlet species could be found. It could

be for purpose in search of food or better environment, this swiftlet migrate from one

place to another and slowly expend the population of A.Fuciphagus after the swiftlet

farming.

A.Fuciphagus is a protected wild life by The Wild Life Protection Ordinance,

1998 in Sarawak. Application of license is necessary to own, maintain or operate a

wild life farm under prescription of so called the Controller. Shop lot converted

swiftlet farming is restricted by law in Sarawak and the enforcement was started

taking action on it since December of 2008. There were only 2 licenses being issued

by the government before December of 2008 and until the earlier of 2009, hundreds

of license application being submitted and being process by department in charge.

Several departments are involved in licensing applications were Sarawak Forestry

Department, Sarawak Land and Survey Department, Environmental Department,

Sarawak Economy Development Corporation and the Local Council.

1.0.3 Swiftlet Farming and the economy impact

Swiftlet farming involves the conversion of human-centric building into

structures for Swiftlet. The purpose of this conversion is to let Swiftlet nesting in

that particular building and protects them. The design and construction of such

buildings will also helps to accommodate swiftlets’ populations as well.

8

Swiftlet farming is still a new industry in Malaysia as compared to other

long-standing industries such as rubber, palm oil and timber. It is one of the

businesses that only involved a small capital investment and it can generate

enormous returns in future. It is also one of the few rare investments that you can

make back your investment within three years.

The projected income generated from sales of bird nests from a standard 20 x

60 feet square shop lot stands at roughly RM10,000-20,000 per month which is also

roughly 2-4kg per month. The bird nests are mostly sold to Chinese countries such

as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. With China fast emerging as one of

the global superpowers, there is a constant unmatched demand for the supply of bird

nests. This mismatch if further amplified during Chinese festivals such as Chinese

New Year when gifts of bird nests are synonymous with wealth and good fortune.

Besides only bird nest could generate extra income, the property or the

successful farm house could also result in a handsome price from prospective buyers.

For an example of a four storey shop lot has increased from RM450,000 to

RM1,000,000 (appreciation of 122%) in less than 5 years. However, not all investors

in Swiftlet farming were successful. The failure rate in Malaysia is at region of 50-

70 percent.

Currently, unprocessed bird nests are sold at Rm3,500-Rm5,500 per kilogram.

After processing, they are mainly exported at RM8, 000-RM12, 000 per kilogram.

Bird nests are the center of a multi-billion dollar industry in Asia. Indonesia alone

exports 250-300 tons of nests worth Rm3.8 billion to Hong Kong and China, while

9

Malaysia exports only 25 tons of what they consider the best quality on the market.

Malaysians exported a total of 18.6 tons of bird nests, mainly to Hong Kong,

Singapore, Japan and Taiwan, valued at RM2.93 million in 1991. Today the trade is

valued at RM150 million per year. Below is a roughly comparison between the

business Swiftlet farming and palm oil plantation:

Table 1.1: Comparison between Swiftlet farming and palm oil plantation industry

Swiftlet Farming Palm Oil Plantation

Area required Roughly 20 feet x 60 feet building 1 acre

Make back investment 3 years 3 years

Mass of harvesting 1 kg 1 ton

Market Price RM4, 500/kg RM700/ton

Investment increment Increasing annually Maintain

The industrial of swiftlet farming also a potential investment compare to

others industrials such as palm oil plantation. Bear in mind that successful swiftlet

farming only required roughly a shop lot size’s structure, the investment increment is

increasing annually and the price is awesome.

However, swiftlet farming operations on shop lot are prohibited in Sarawak.

The Sarawak local authority only allowed swiftlet farming to be operate on

agriculture land that is 35km far away from town area for hygienic and sound

pollution prevention purpose. According to current media, the Sarawak Forestry

teo wee chai bachelor of engineering with honors (civil ... on suitable habitat for...

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