Tag Archives: viscera

371–377 M.G.L. Cândido, I.F.F. Tinôco, M. Barbari, L.C.S.R. Freitas, T.C. dos Santos, R.R. Andrade, R.S. Gates, L. Conti and G. Rossi
Effect of environmental temperature during the of brooding period on growing period of pullets viscera and tibia
Abstract |

Effect of environmental temperature during the of brooding period on growing period of pullets viscera and tibia

M.G.L. Cândido¹*, I.F.F. Tinôco¹, M. Barbari², L.C.S.R. Freitas¹, T.C. dos Santos¹, R.R. Andrade¹, R.S. Gates³, L. Conti² and G. Rossi²

¹Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Peter Henry Rolfs Ave, s/n, BR 36570-000 Viçosa-MG, Brazil
²University of Firenze, Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry, Via San Bonaventura, 13, IT50145 Firenze, Italy
³University of Illinois, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 1304 West Pennsylvania Avenue, US61820 Urbana-IL, United States of America
*Correspondence: marciagl.candido@gmail.com

Abstract:

Poultry production in subtropical and tropical regions faces many problems, one of which is the high air temperature causing thermal stress, particularly dangerous in high-producing birds. Thus, the negative effects caused by heat stress (HS) must be managed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of four different levels of HS in viscera and tibia of pullets. A total of 648 chicks (Lohmann LSL Lite) were used in this study in two different phases. The pre-experimental phase (PEP) was from day 1 through 6 weeks of age. The birds were reared with three different environmental temperatures: thermal comfort, hot and cold. The experimental phase (EP) was conducted from the 7th to the 17th week. Pullets from each thermal environment of the PEP were submitted to: 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C. At the end of the 17th week of age 120 pullets were euthanatized and the organs, heart, liver, spleen and gizzard were weighed, as also their tibias. Effects of PEP, and its interaction with EP, were not significant (P < 0.05) for viscera and tibia weight. However, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in heart weight with the decrease of the environmental temperature was observed, being the pullets subject to 20 ºC and 25 °C with the heaviest weights. For the liver, pullets subject to the 35 °C had the lowest weight and were different (P < 0.05) from the other three treatments. For gizzard, the difference (P < 0.05) was between the treatments 20 ºC and 35 °C. These results indicate that brooding temperatures tested during the first 6 weeks of life did not affect the viscera and bone weight during the growing phase.

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