Effect of temperature on the behavior and parameters of the blood of Japanese quails

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to establish the ideal temperature for Japanese quails, 168 quails were used distributed in four treatments (temperatures: 20, 24, 28 and 32 ° C), six replicates of seven birds each. The experiment was divided into four phases of 21 days in bioclimatic chambers of CCA/UFPB, Areia/PB. The physiological parameters cloacal temperature (TC) and surface average temperature (TMS) were evaluated; Behavioral patterns Eating (CRs), Drinking (CAs), Investigating Feathers (PI), Comfort movements (MC) and aggressive movements (MA), grouped (AGR), seated (SEM), Stop (PAR) and others, by means of indirect observation; For blood parameters, Corticosterone (CO), Triiodothyonine (T3) and Tetraidodothyonine (T4) levels were evaluated. The means of the variables were compared by the Tukey test (P < 0.05). For the behavioral data, a multivariate analysis of principal components (PCA) was used for the behavioral variables given in time period (s) and frequency. The worst values of CR and PRO were observed at the temperature of 32°C. The quails can maintain the cloacal temperature in a narrow temperature range. The different temperatures in which the animals were submitted did not alter the hormonal variables studied. The PCA application is a good tool for the behavioral evaluation of Japanese quails.