Broiler behavior: Influence of thermal stress, age, and period of the day

Autor(es)

Sarah Sgavioli ^[1] ; Elaine Talita Santos ^[2] ; Carla Heloisa de Faria Domingues ^[3] ; Diana Maryuri Correa Castiblanco ^[4] ; Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues ^[5] ; Cynthia Pieri Zeferino ^[6] ; Ayla Rosa Almeida ^[7] ; Isabel Cristina Boleli ^[8]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade Brasil. Programa de Mestrado em Produção Animal - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronegócios - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição e Produção Animal - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Brasil. Programa de Mestrado em Produção Animal - Brasil

^[7] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia - Brasil

^[8] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ZOOTECNIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE; v. 52, 2023-06-05.

Resumo

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the behavior of broiler chickens subjected to thermal stress during different periods of the day and age of birds. A total of 180 one-day-old male broiler chicks were allocated to three chambers. Each chamber contained five boxes, with 12 chicks/box. Birds were assigned to a completely randomized design. The birds were filmed, and the images recorded every minute during the two periods: morning (from 08:00 to 09:00 h) and afternoon (from 17:00 to 18:00 h), at 7, 14, and 35 d of age. The frequency of the behavioral category (water intake, feed intake, resting, exploration, and comfort) was determined. Data were subjected to variance analysis for mixed models with rearing temperatures (cold, usual, and hot) and age of birds (7, 14, and 35 d) as subdivided plot, and periods of the day (morning and afternoon) as sub-subdivided plot. Birds at cold and usual temperatures showed higher feed intake than those at hot temperature in the morning. Birds exposed to cold and usual temperatures explored the environment less frequently at 35 d when compared with 14 d. However, chickens at hot temperature showed decreased exploration according to the increase of age. Birds spent more time feeding during the morning, regardless of age and rearing temperature. Also, during this period of the day, chickens spent most of the time exploring the environment. The frequency of feed intake and exploration decreases with the increase of age. The similarity of behavior between chickens reared at cold and usual temperatures may be due to a change in the thermal comfort zone of the birds. It suggests that the real thermal comfort temperature is between the two temperature ranges studied (cold and usual). (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/15280-0 - Efeito da injeção de ácido acórbico e do estresse calórico na incubação sobre o desempenho e características fisiológicas e comportamentais de frangos de corte criados sob diferentes temperaturas
• Beneficiário: Isabel Cristina Boleli
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 10/01923-7 - Efeito da injeção de ácido ascórbico e estresse calórico na incubação sobre o desempenho e características fisiológicas e comportamentais de frangos de corte criados sob diferentes temperaturas
• Beneficiário: Sarah Sgavioli
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado