Evaluation of thermal comfort and performance of broiler chickens under different housing systems

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate three housing systems for broiler chicken production, aiming to characterize thermal environment and animal performance. The experiment was conducted over 42 days, developed in production modules, divided in 15 boxes with 10 birds per box, and submitted to three housing systems: semi-confined with 3 m2 per broiler of paddock area (SC 3), semi-confined with 6 m2 per broiler of paddock area (SC 6) and total confinement (CONF). The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD), in split plots, with the means compared through the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). The meteorological variables and comfort indices indicated the system of accommodation SC 3 as the one that allowed the better natural conditioning heat to the birds, presenting the average values of 25.4 °C, 69.9 kJ kg-1 and 75.7 for dry bulb temperature (Tbs), enthalpy (h) and black globe humidity index (ITGU), respectively. Physiological parameters respiratory rate (mov min-1) and cloacal temperature (°C) had mean values more appropriate to birds subjected to the accommodation system SC 3. The housing systems promote significant changes in performance of broiler chicken in relation to feed consumption (CR) and body weight (PC) in housing systems SC 3 and CONF, compared with SC 6, which presented performance losses.