Performance analysis of the broiler chicks under different cooling devices during hot-dry summer

Abstract

The efficacy of two cooling systems with a low-cost Fan-Fogger (FF) and the conventional Fan-Pad (FP) system was tested to reduce the effect of heat stress in broiler chicks. Four hundred eighty, day-old sexed commercial broiler chicks were randomly divided into twelve groups each having forty birds with similar body weight range and equal sex ratio. All the chicks were reared under similar brooding conditions for two weeks. The FF and FP systems were used for four groups of chicks each from third to six week of age. All chicks were reared under deep litter system of housing with similar managemental conditions except the cooling systems. The average body weight of chicks at the start of experiment was 280g. The temperature in control, FF & FP during the experimental period of 4 weeks was 32.18 ± 0.11, 30.22 ± 0.85 and 29.40 ± 0.09 ºC with relative humidity of 39.21 ± 0.09, 44.65 ± 0.14 and 48.91± 0.10%, respectively. The body temperatures of birds in FF and FP were recorded to be 107.2 ± 0.18 and 106.9 ± 0.04ºF respectively, as compared to 108.2 ± 0.13ºF, in birds of control. The weight gain was 1101± 1.00, 1241± 1.50 and 1320 ± 1.49 g; the FCR was 2.23 ± 0.01, 2.08 ± 0.01 and 2.03 ± 0.02 while the PER was 2.37 ± 0.01, 2.55 ± 0.02 and 2.61 ± 0.01 in control, FF & FP, respectively. The survivability rate was 95.04 ± 0.56% in control, 96.78 ± 0.62% in FF and 98.23± 0.42% in FP, respectively. It was concluded that both the cooling systems had significant (p < 0.05) effect on the comfort and production efficiency of broiler chicks during hot-dry season. The fan-pad system was found to be more efficient than fan-fogger system.