The Effect of Ambient Temperature Upon Body Temperature, Feed Consumption, and Water Consumption, Using Two Varieties of Turkeys

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different ambient temperatures upon two varieties (Broad Breasted White and Broad Breasted Bronze) of adult male turkeys. Criteria taken into consideration were body temperature, feed consumption, and water consumption.Four environmental chambers were used with temperature settings of 37.8°C., 32.2°C., 21.1°C., and 10.0°C. Relative humidity and air circulation were controlled. Body temperatures were recorded once a week during treatment and at 5 days of post-treatment. Total feed consumption was recorded for the pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment periods. Water consumption for a 24-hour period was measured during pretreatment and once a week during the treatment periods only.At ambient temperature of 37.8°C., a significant (P<.05) increase in body temperature and water consumption and a significant (P<.05) decrease in feed consumption was observed as compared to pre-treatment values. Based upon the time that it took for most criteria to become constant in a high ambient temperature, acclimatization to 37.8°C. probably took place between 14 and 21 days.Exposure to the 32.2°C., 21.1°C., and 10.0°C. treatments showed an increase in water consumption for the 32.2°C. group, a decrease in body temperature for the 21.1°C. and 10.0°C. groups, and an increase in feed consumption for the 10.0°C. group. Acclimatization to these treatments occurred generally between 7 and 14 days.This study has shown that upon exposure to four ambient temperatures, adult tom turkeys showed no variety differences except for feed consumption when considering three physiological characteristics.