Effect of neonatal heat stress on growth, mortality and blood characteristics of juvenile broilers exposed to high ambient temperature

Previous studies indicated that exposure of broiler cockerels to acute heat for 24 hr at five days of age increased their survivability when exposed to high ambient temperature prior to market. Since they were conducted at low relative humidity, the aims of the present study were to determine if higher relative humidity affected the response and to investigate the physiological basis of the response. The early, neonatal, heat stress consisted of increasing ambient temperature to between 35.0 to 37.8 C for 24 hr at five days of age in half of the pens (early heat stress) while the remaining pens were kept at 29.4 C (early control). At 6 wk of age a second, late, juvenile, heat challenge was administered. Ambient temperature in half of the early heat stressed pens and early control pens was gradually increased to between 35.0 to 37.8 C for 8 hr on two consecutive days. Significantly lower mortality during the second heat challenge was observed in the early heat stressed birds. This reduction in mortality ranged from 75 to 90% of that seen in the early control birds. Additionally, there were no deleterious effects on body weight, body weight gain or feed efficiency caused by exposure of birds to early heat stress. Feed restriction or administration of a commercially available electrolyte package to the water had no effect on the ability of the birds to withstand high ambient temperature. Water consumption, core and surface body temperature were increased upon exposure to late heat; however, there were no significant differences between the early heat stressed and early control groups. There was a significant reduction in plasma T₃ concentration in the late heat stressed birds. No significant differences in plasma glucose were observed among the heat treatment groups. A significant increase in total plasma protein occurred during the first sampling period during late heat stress, with values returning to control levels during the second sampling period. No significant differences between the early heat stressed and early control groups were observed in plasma T₄ and total plasma protein during late heat. Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was lower in the early heat stressed group than in the early control group during the second day of late heat exposure These results indicate that thermotolerance can be induced by exposing broiler chicks to 35.0 to 37.8 C for 24 hr at 5 days of age with no adverse effects on performance. Although the mechanism by which Early, neonatal, heat exposure induces thermotolerance is unknown, it is clear that it does not resemble acclimation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Poultry Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Poultry Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Arjona, Anibal Augusto

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/80065

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/80065