The Influence of Cold Conditioning on the Performance of the Broiler Chicken

Authors : Mehmet YARDIMCI, Erol ŞENGÖR, E. Hesna ŞAHİN, İsmail BAYRAM, İ. Sadi ÇETİNGÜL

Pages : 583-588

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The effect of short-term cold exposure on the performance of 600 commercial Ross 308 male broiler chickens was examined. On the fifth and sixth days of life the trial group was exposed to 15 °C ambient temperature for 3 h, both days, while the control group was kept under conventional brooding conditions. Thereafter, both control and trial birds were exposed to standard rearing temperatures until the 21st day, and from the 21st day to slaughter they were exposed to 15 °C ambient temperature. The mortality rate was significantly lower in the trial group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5%); compared to the control group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(11%);. The differences between body weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(control group: 2475.9 g; trial group: 2423.7 g); and feed conversion ratio insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FCR); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(control group: 1.95; trial group: 1.92); were not statistically significant. Performance and livability were not negatively affected by short-term cold exposure. It may be concluded that early age short-term cold conditioning improves thermotolerance to cold weather in broiler chickens in their later life.
Keywords : Broiler, cold exposure, thermotolerance