Effects of Low Ambient Temperature on Growth Performance, Body Temperature and Behavior of Broilers

WANG Xuejie, ZHANG Minhong, FENG Jinghai, LI Xiumei, ZHOU Ying, XING Shuang, MA Dandan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2018.10.015

Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition >

2018 , Vol. 30 >Issue 10: 3914 - 3922

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2018.10.015

Molecular Nutrition

Effects of Low Ambient Temperature on Growth Performance, Body Temperature and Behavior of Broilers

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State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100193, China

Received date: 2018-03-26

Online published: 2018-10-20

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Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of low ambient temperature on growth performance, body temperature and behavior of broilers, and to explore the lower limit temperature for suitable growth of broilers. Experiment 1:a total of 360 healthy 21-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were selected and randomly allotted into 6 groups with 6 replicates per group and 10 broilers per replicate. Broilers in the 6 groups were fed in the 6 artificial climate chambers, the chamber average temperatures were 26.5, 25.0, 23.5, 22.0 20.5 and 19.0℃, respectively. Experiment 2:a total of 240 healthy 35-day-old AA broilers were selected and randomly allotted into 5 groups with 6 replicates per group and 8 broilers per replicate. Broilers in the 5 groups were fed in the 6 artificial climate chambers, the chamber average temperatures were 22.5, 20.5, 18.5, 16.5 and 14.5℃, respectively. Both trials lasted for 1 week, and the growth performance, surface temperature, core temperature and behavioral parameters of broilers were determined. The results showed as follows:1) during 21 to 28 days of age period, the low ambient temperature significantly affected the feed to gain ratio (F/G), surface temperatures in different parts and standing and huddling behavior times of broilers (P<0.05). The F/G of broilers in average temperature 26.5℃ group was significantly lower than that in average temperature 22.0, 20.5 and 19.0℃ groups (P<0.05), the crest temperature, eyes temperature, ankle temperature, leg temperature of broilers in average temperature 26.5℃ group were significantly higher than those in 22.0, 20.5 and 19.0℃ groups (P<0.05), the feeding, standing and huddling behavior times of broilers in average temperature 26.5℃ group were significantly lower than those in 22.0, 20.5 and 19.0℃ groups (P<0.05). 2) During 35 to 42 days of age period, the low ambient temperature significantly affected the F/G, surface temperatures in different parts and standing and huddling behavior times of broilers (P<0.05). The F/G of broilers in average temperature 22.5℃ group was significantly lower than that in average temperature 16.5 and 14.5℃ groups (P<0.05), the crest temperature, eyes temperature, earlap temperature, ankle temperature, leg temperature of broilers in average temperature 22.5℃ group were significantly higher than those in 16.5 and 14.5℃ groups (P<0.05), the huddling behavior time of broilers in average temperature 22.5℃ group were significantly lower than that in 18.5, 16.5 and 14.5℃ groups (P<0.05), the standing behavior time of broilers in average temperature 22.5℃ group were significantly lower than that in 14.5℃ group (P<0.05). In conclusion, under the condition of this experiment, the lower limit temperature for suitable growth of broilers are 25.0 to 22.0℃ (21 to 28 days of age) and 19.5 to 17.5℃ (35 to 42 days of age).

Key words： low ambient temperature; broilers; growth performance; body temperature; behavior

Cite this article

WANG Xuejie, ZHANG Minhong, FENG Jinghai, LI Xiumei, ZHOU Ying, XING Shuang, MA Dandan . Effects of Low Ambient Temperature on Growth Performance, Body Temperature and Behavior of Broilers[J]. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2018 , 30(10) : 3914 -3922 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2018.10.015

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