Abstract
Brazilian poultry production is prospering, and negative-pressure broiler houses are increasingly used to improve environmental control. One important issue is the color of the side curtains used in such houses due to the influence of colors on broiler behavior. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of different curtain color on the welfare of 7-day-old broilers, considering luminosity and other environmental parameters. Chicks were housed in three different negative-pressure broiler houses either with black (T1), blue (T2), or yellow (T3) side curtains. House environment (luminosity, dry-bulb temperature, air relative humidity, air velocity, and gas emissions) and the behavior of chicks on day 7 after housing were evaluated in three consecutive flocks in the morning and in the afternoon. Data were submitted to multivariate analysis, Kruskal-Wallis' test, and Pearson's correlation test. Luminosity and ITU were influenced by curtain color, and some of the evaluated behaviors were associated with luminosity or other environmental parameter.
Highlights
In Brazil, the poultry industry applies modern technologies more than any other animal production activity (Lima et al, 2011)
Poultry are more sensitive to environmental luminosity than humans (Lewis & Morris, 2000; Prescott & Wathes, 2001).the behavior of poultry is influenced by environmental factors other than luminosity (Dawkins, 1999; Ferrante et al, 2001), and understanding the effect of the environment on behavior allows identifying, quantifying, and characterizing thermal comfort and welfare conditions (Pereira et al, 2007).According to SCAHAW (2000), behavior is the leading means animals have to express their physical and mental states
The following environmental parameters were collected at bird height and at the same location and time of behavior recording: luminosity (L, in lx), dry bulb temperature (DBT, in oC), air relative humidity (RH, in %), air velocity (AV, in ms-1), ammonia concentration (NH3, in ppm) and carbon dioxide concentration (CO2, in ppm)
Summary
In Brazil, the poultry industry applies modern technologies more than any other animal production activity (Lima et al, 2011). Modern broiler genetic strains have high performance genetic potential; proper conditions should be provided to allow birds to fully express this potential and to profit from their better productivity. Poultry are more sensitive to environmental luminosity than humans (Lewis & Morris, 2000; Prescott & Wathes, 2001).the behavior of poultry is influenced by environmental factors other than luminosity (Dawkins, 1999; Ferrante et al, 2001), and understanding the effect of the environment on behavior allows identifying, quantifying, and characterizing thermal comfort and welfare conditions (Pereira et al, 2007).According to SCAHAW (2000), behavior is the leading means animals have to express their physical and mental states. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of seven-day-old broiler chicks reared in poultry houses with side curtains of different colors in order to determine which provides the best welfare conditions
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.
