Thermotolerance Acquisition in Broiler Chickens by Temperature Conditioning Early in Life

Abstract

The research on thermotolerance acquisition in broiler chickens by temperature conditioning early in life was focused on the following objectives: a. To determine the optimal timing and temperature for inducing the thermotolerance, conditioning processes and to define its duration during the first week of life in the broiler chick. b. To investigate the response of skeletal muscle tissue and the gastrointestinal tract to thermal conditioning. This objective was added during the research, to understand the mechanisms related to compensatory growth. c. To evaluate the effect of early thermo conditioning on thermoregulation (heat production and heat dissipation) during 3 phases: (1) conditioning, (2) compensatory growth, (3) heat challenge. d. To investigate how induction of improved thermotolerance impacts on metabolic fuel and the hormones regulating growth and metabolism. Recent decades have seen significant development in the genetic selection of the meat-type fowl (i.e., broiler chickens); leading to rapid growth and increased feed efficiency, providing the poultry industry with heavy chickens in relatively short growth periods. Such development necessitates parallel increases in the size of visceral systems such as the cardiovascular and the respiratory ones. However, inferior development of such major systems has led to a relatively low capability to balance energy expenditure under extreme conditions. Thus, acute exposure of chickens to extreme conditions (i.e., heat spells) has resulted in major economic losses. Birds are homeotherms, and as such, they are able to maintain their body temperature within a narrow range. To sustain thermal tolerance and avoid the deleterious consequences of thermal stresses, a direct response is elicited: the rapid thermal shock response - thermal conditioning. This technique of temperature conditioning takes advantage of the immaturity of the temperature regulation mechanism in young chicks during their first week of life. Development of this mechanism involves sympathetic neural activity, integration of thermal infom1ation in the hypothalamus, and buildup of the body-to-brain temperature difference, so that the potential for thermotolerance can be incorporated into the developing thermoregulation mechanisms. Thermal conditioning is a unique management tool, which most likely involves hypothalamic them1oregulatory threshold changes that enable chickens, within certain limits, to cope with acute exposure to unexpected hot spells. Short-tem1 exposure to heat stress during the first week of life (37.5+1°C; 70-80% rh; for 24 h at 3 days of age) resulted in growth retardation followed immediately by compensatory growth" which resulted in complete compensation for the loss of weight gain, so that the conditioned chickens achieved higher body weight than that of the controls at 42 days of age. The compensatory growth was partially explained by its dramatic positive effect on the proliferation of muscle satellite cells which are necessary for further muscle hypertrophy. By its significant effect of the morphology and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract during and after using thermal conditioning. The significant effect of thermal conditioning on the chicken thermoregulation was found to be associated with a reduction in heat production and evaporative heat loss, and with an increase in sensible heat loss. It was further accompanied by changes in hormones regulating growth and metabolism These physiological responses may result from possible alterations in PO/AH gene expression patterns (14-3-3e), suggesting a more efficient mechanism to cope with heat stress. Understanding the physiological mechanisms behind thermal conditioning step us forward to elucidate the molecular mechanism behind the PO/AH response, and response of other major organs. The thermal conditioning technique is used now in many countries including Israel, South Korea, Australia, France" Ecuador, China and some places in the USA. The improvement in growth perfom1ance (50-190 g/chicken) and thermotolerance as a result of postnatal thermal conditioning, may initiate a dramatic improvement in the economy of broiler's production.