The Influence of Air Temperature During Brooding on Broiler Performance

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted on the effects of constant ambient air temperatures (a range of 26.7° C. to 35° C.) with warm-room brooding and no supplemental heat from a brooder stove on the performance of broilers. In the first experiment body weight gain and feed consumption were highest for broiler chicks brooded to 3 weeks of age at an initial air temperature of 30.8° C. which was decreased to 28.5° C. and 26.2° C. in the second and third weeks, respectively. A significant improvement in feed efficiency was observed as initial air temperature was increased to 30.8° C. or 35.0° C. In the second experiment the optimum initial temperature for body weight gain from 0 to 3 weeks of age appeared to be near 30° C. for males and 31.7° C. for females. However, no significant differences in body weight gains due to initial air temperatures were evident at the end of 8 weeks. Feed efficiency (0 to 3 weeks) was significantly improved at temperatures between 30° C.–35° C. as compared to lower temperatures. Livability was not affected by the air temperatures studied.