The impact of high temperatures on dark places cannot be ignored; ventilation and heat dissipation are key

So-called dark places usually refer to warehouses, cellars, sheds and similar sites where goods are stored away from light or where light is insufficient. Many people assume that the absence of direct sunlight means coolness, but in reality dark places dissipate heat slowly and often lack ventilation, so in hot weather the internal temperature likewise keeps rising and is sometimes even more stifling than the open air.

For the storage stage, the impact of high temperatures on dark places is mainly seen in grain, feed, seed potatoes and similar materials. Under hot, stuffy, light-blocked conditions, grain and feed respire more intensely and readily heat up and absorb moisture, leading to caking, mold and insect infestation; tubers such as potatoes in hot dark places also tend to sprout early, and their quality declines accordingly.

For livestock and poultry farming, pens located in dark places with poor ventilation suffer more pronounced problems in high temperatures. Heat and moisture inside the shed cannot escape, making it hard for pigs, chickens and other livestock and poultry to dissipate heat; feed intake drops, growth slows, and heatstroke as well as respiratory and intestinal diseases are easily triggered, with fattening results and survival rates both clearly affected.

Therefore, daily management must balance light blocking with ventilation, avoiding the mistake of only covering up without letting heat escape. Warehouses and pens should have windows opened appropriately for cross-ventilation, with fans or cooling pads added when necessary, and stored materials should be turned over and inspected regularly so that heating and mold are dealt with promptly; for livestock and poultry, adequate drinking water must be ensured and stocking density appropriately reduced to help them get safely through the high-temperature period.