The Effect of Temperature Exposure on Broiler Condemnation

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONNUMEROUS correlations between broiler condemnations due to diseases and management factors have been made by various workers (Edgar et al., 1961; Cover, 1961; Clark et al., 1961; and Merkle and Johnson, 1962). Schmittle (1961), in a survey of problem broiler flocks, found that diseases—especially respiratory—in the presence of adverse environmental influences directly affected the condemnation of broilers. Although airsaccultis is but one of the causes of condemnation, Grumbles (1961) concluded that acute viral respiratory infections, especially Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis, may activate latent Mycoplasma infection, “trigger” field outbreaks of air-sac disease, increase impairment of performance and cause much more severe symptoms and lesions in birds with the CRD-air sac syndrome.From the management stress standpoint Krueger et al. (1961) compared floor space allowances, age of debeaking, and degree of ventilation on the condemnation rate of commercial type broilers. The floor space ranged from 0.6 to 1.2…