Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine thermal comfort ranges, as evaluated by air temperature and black-glove temperature and humidity index (BGTHI), for starter meat-type quails. Nine hundred quails were randomly distributed into five environmental chambers. Each chamber was programmed to provide different temperatures weekly. The following thermal environments were provided: SC – severe cold, MC – moderate cold, TC – recommended comfort environment, MH – moderate heat, and SH – severe heat. The best live performance was obtained when quails were submitted to temperatures of 36-39 oC and BGTHI of 87.1 ± 0.4 and 91.4 ± 0.6 during the first week of rearing. Temperatures of 27-30 oC and BGTHI of 75.8 ± 0.4 and 79.9 ± 0.6, during the second week, and temperature of 24 oC and BGTHI of 70.8 ± 0.5 during the third week of rearing.
Highlights
Brazil quail production increased 19.8% between 2010 and 2011, with 15,567 million birds
Each environmental chamber was equipped with an electrical air heater, a hot/cold split air conditioner (1200 BTU/h), and an air humidifier (4.5 L capacity and average fog volume of 300 mL/h)
The parameters temperature, air relative humidity, and black-globe temperature and humidity index were evaluated to determine the internal environment of the chambers
Summary
Brazil quail production increased 19.8% between 2010 and 2011, with 15,567 million birds. In Brazil, the quail flock in the mid-western region increased 34.4%, 19.6% in the southeastern region, and 9.2% in the northern region. The flock was reduced in 5.1% in the southern region, and in 2.2% in the northeastern region. The southeastern region houses 65.5% of the national flock, and the state of São Paulo 46.4%, recording an increase of 24% in 2011 relative to 2010 (IBGE, 2012). Quails are susceptible to changes in environmental temperature. Poultry in general have a thermoregulatory center in the central nervous system. The hypothalamus works as a physiological thermostat, controlling heat production and dissipation through several mechanisms, such as changing skin blood flow, as well as heart and respiratory rates (Moro, 1995)
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