The effect of brooding temperature on broiler performance.
In response to the energy crisis of the 1970s, this laboratory recommended that initial brooding temperatures for broilers be reduced to 29.4 C from 32.2 or 35 C. Because environmental temperature has been implicated in the ascites syndrome, this work was conducted to see whether the recommended brooding temperature of 29.4 C the 1st wk, 26.7 C the 2nd wk, and 23.9 C the 3rd wk would be satisfactory for broiler production when compared with higher brooding temperature regimens starting at 32.2 or 35 C. Brooding chicks at a temperature of 29.4 C the 1st wk, 26.7 C the 2nd wk, and 23.9 C the 3rd wk did not adversely affect broiler performance at 6 wk of age, when compared with higher brooding temperature regimens. Under the conditions of this experiment, brooding chicks at a temperature of 29.4 C the 1st wk, 26.7 C the 2nd wk, and 23.9 C the 3rd wk was satisfactory when compared with the higher temperature brooding regimens. Mortality due to ascites and total mortality significantly increased for broilers brooded in the negative control temperature regimen of 26.7 C the 1st wk, 23.9 C the 2nd wk, and 21.1 C when compared with some or all of the higher brooding temperature regimens. Heat loss calculations based on a commercial setting show an 18% savings in liquified petroleum (LP) gas usage for chicks brooded at 29.4 vs 35 C and a savings of 10% in LP gas usage for chicks brooded at 29.4 vs 32.2 C on a winter day.
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, USA.
J W
JW
Deaton
S L
SL
Branton
J D
JD
Simmons
B D
BD
Lott
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods*; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013696:Temperature