Drinking water temperature effects on laying hens subjected to warm cyclic environments

Wet feed and chilled water as stratigies to ameliorate heat stress impacts in growing turkeys during summer conditions

The researchers investigated wet feed and chilled water effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and physiologic responses of native turkeys during the summer season. We hypothesized that the present treatments during the hot season would show different performances. A total of 180 four-week-old unsexed pullets were divided into six groups in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Pullets were allocated regarding feed conditions to 3 groups (ad libitum dry feed, ad libitum wet feed, and diurnal wet feed). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups according to water temperature (ordinary or chilled water; 15-16 °C). Pullets fed diurnal wet feed and drank chilled water had the highest daily feed intake and the lowest feed conversion ratio during 4-16 weeks of age. Abdominal fat, IgG level and body temperature were low, whereas total antioxidant capacity and the meat quality scores for color, juiciness, and susceptibility were high in turkeys that drank chilled water. The interaction between wet feed and water temperature showed significant changes in glucose, cholesterol levels, and alanine transaminase activity. Pullets fed diurnal wet feed and drank chilled water had the lowest body temperatures. Wet feeding and chilled water may be the appropriate feeding method for native turkeys raised in hot weather.

Effect of different rearing system on eggs production, hatchability, and offspring quality in layer breeders

This study analyzed the influence of an aviary system, in comparison with battery cages, on rearing and reproduction of parent-stock (PS) laying-type chickens. ISA Brown PS chicks were reared for 16 wk in battery cages or in an aviary system. Chickens reared in cages were kept there throughout the rearing period, whereas those reared in the aviary were released after 7 wk. The remaining housing conditions were similar in cages and the aviary. Body weight (BW, g), feed intake (FI, g/birds/d), and mortality (%) of birds were monitored during rearing. After the rearing period, the chickens were transferred to 4 litter poultry houses: flock C (in cages) to poultry houses C1 and C2 (total: 2,076 cockerels and 20,450 pullets); flock A (in aviary) to poultry houses A1 and A2 (total: 1,542 cockerels and 16,962 pullets). During the period of reproduction (48 wk), egg production (%), hatching egg production (%), waste egg (%) and litter egg production (%), feed conversion ratio (FCR, g) and water intake (mL) per laid egg, hatching egg, and hatched chick, mortality (week/%), and BW at 17 wk and after reaching 50% laying performance were monitored. Furthermore, during incubation, fertilization rate (%), hatchability (%), and chick quality were recorded. The results showed that aviary rearing was associated with lower FI and higher mortality of chicks up to 16 wk of age. The following effects were also observed for aviary rearing during reproduction: the average egg and hatching egg production were higher, while waste and litter egg production were lower; FCR per laid egg, hatching egg, and the number of hatched chicks were poorer; and water intake for the production of 1 hatching egg and 1 hatched chick was lower. In the case of flocks A, higher mortality and BW at 17 wk of age were recorded for both sexes. They were characterized by higher relative egg fertilization, but lower hatchability due to the higher share of unhatched eggs. No influence of PS flock rearing system on chick quality was observed. The obtained results indicate that the aviary rearing system can be recommended for PS laying-type flocks. However, future research should consider the impact of a different diet having higher energy concentration on PS flocks reared in aviaries and develop methods for counteracting higher mortality in these systems. This is particularly significant for roosters because too few roosters in flock may contribute to lower egg fertilization and higher embryonic mortality.

Effects of high environmental temperatures on the electrolyte status of Thai indigenous, Thai indigenous crossbred and broiler chickens

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of high environmental temperatures on the electrolyte status of three breeds of chickens: Thai Indigenous Chickens (TIC), Thai Indigenous Crossbred Chickens (TICC) and Broiler Chickens (BC). Male and female TIC, TICC and BC were maintained at the environmental temperature ranges of 26+/-2 degrees C and cyclic 38+/-2 degrees C. Sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl(-)) and potassium (K+) were investigated on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of the experimental period. The results revealed the following information: On day 7, plasma Na+ of male BC at 38+/-2 degrees C was significantly higher than that of male BC at 26+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). On day 14, plasma Na+ of male TIC and BC at 26+/-2 degrees C was significantly higher than that of male TIC and BC at 38+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). On day 28, plasma Cl(-) of male TIC and BC at 38+/-2 degrees C was significantly higher than that of male TIC and BC at 26+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). On day 28, at 38+/-2 degrees C, plasma Cl(-) of male TIC was significantly higher than male TICC and male and female BC (p<0.05). On days 1, plasma K+ of TIC, TICC and BC at 38+/-2 degrees C was significantly higher than that ofTIC, TICC and BC at 26+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). On day 7, plasma K+ of TIC and TICC at 38+/-2 degrees C was significantly higher than that of TIC and TICC at 26+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). On day 14, plasma K+ of male BC at 38+/-2 degrees C was significantly lower than that of male BC at 26+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). On days 21, plasma K+ of female TICC at 38+/-2 degrees C was higher than female TICC at 26+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). On day 28, plasma K+ of male TIC and TICC at 38+/-2 degrees C was significantly higher than that of TIC and TICC at 26+/-2 degrees C (p<0.05). This experiment showed that time, breeding and environmental temperature have an influence on the electrolyte status of TIC, TICC and BC. Under heat stress, TIC preserved the electrolyte in their body better than the TICC and BC, respectively.