Effects of different temperature regimens on body composition and carry-over effects on energy metabolism of growing chickens.
Groups of cross-bred cockerels, four weeks of age, were held at 5 different temperature treatments (5-34 degrees C.) for 30 days, and were then killed at about 8 weeks of age. Food consumption and growth rate declined with increased temperature, and there was a significant increase in fat, and a decrease in water content of the carcasses. Calorimetric measurements at 20 degrees C. of pairs of starved birds after 7, 15 and 25 days exposure to different temperature regimens showed a decline in heat production (kJ./kg.W or W0.73) with increased temperature and with duration of prior treatment (kj./kg.W). Effects of previous temperature exposure were apparently not entirely dispelled when similar measurements were made on pairs of birds that had been on the treatments for at least 25 days and then held for 4 days at 20 degrees C. before measurements were commenced. Calorimetric measurements made at 20 degrees C. on fed pairs of birds during a 3-day period following at least 25 days of temperature treatment showed several carry-over effects. Metabolizable energy concentration of the diet and nitrogen retention increased, and heat increment decreased, as a result of prior exposure of the birds to increasing temperature.
D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005215:Fasting; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water; D009584:Nitrogen