Abstract
Henhouse thermal comfort and bird age influence broiler breeder hen productivity; this way, the present research aimed to assess thermal comfort indexes and broiler breeder hen performance during winter in North East semi-arid region from Brazil, using a Cobb Avian 48 broiler strain at the age of 38 and 50 weeks. We measured the following bioclimatic indexes: air temperature and relative humidity, black globe temperature and humidity, CO2 concentration and sound pressure levels at henhouse facility. Data analysis design was complete randomized in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme with three treatments (months) and three replications (week number of collection by month). A number of 25 climatic data were observed. Bioclimatic indexes at the most warm hours throughout the day promoted bird discomfort yet sound pressure and carbon dioxide levels were under the Brazilian standards. Even in thermal comfort zone at some hours, the productivity indexes were in compliance with those recommended by the strain creation guidebook.
Highlights
The Brazilian semi-arid region presents two distinct seasons: one of them when high temperatures and low humidity are recorded and the other with mild temperatures and rains
The broiler and egg-layer hen breeding business are growing for many reasons such as breeding system technical knowledge and warmer weather conditions (JÁCOME et al, 2007; TRINDADE et al, 2007; VITORASSO & PEREIRA, 2009; FURTADO et al, 2011), associated to market increase due to local population purchasing power enhancement
Chicken genetic improvement aiming to reach higher growing speed, associated to nutrition, management, sanity, and ambience improvements generate a zootechnically effective bird with meat and egg production capacity allowing intensive breeding, in industrial scale which a large number of animals can be housed, but high production brings problems related to rearing environment (MENEGALI et al, 2009; FURTADO et al, 2010; 2011) and animal welfare, which has been more and more a very important concern of customers and producers (ALVES et al, 2007; ROCHA et al, 2008a)
Summary
The Brazilian semi-arid region presents two distinct seasons: one of them when high temperatures and low humidity are recorded and the other with mild temperatures and rains. Chicken genetic improvement aiming to reach higher growing speed, associated to nutrition, management, sanity, and ambience improvements generate a zootechnically effective bird with meat and egg production capacity allowing intensive breeding, in industrial scale which a large number of animals can be housed, but high production brings problems related to rearing environment (MENEGALI et al, 2009; FURTADO et al, 2010; 2011) and animal welfare, which has been more and more a very important concern of customers and producers (ALVES et al, 2007; ROCHA et al, 2008a) In this context, comfort inside buildings must be highlighted (ABREU & ABREU, 2011), mainly in arid and semi-arid locations, taking into account every environment such as thermal (temperature, humidity, wind speed and others), acoustic (noises), air (gases, dust and fungus) and social. In tropical countries such as Brazil, intensive poultry production must be enhanced; so, in this purpose, buildings should be improved; and, in some cases, change management to overcome deleterious effect of critical environmental factors (VITORASSO & PEREIRA, 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
