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Climatic adaptation of laying hens
Tropical Animal Health and Production
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Early life climate exposure has minimal impact on poultry productivity. High temperatures during the laying period negatively affect performance, regardless of prior rearing conditions, indicating limited acclimatization benefits.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Poultry Science
- Environmental Physiology
Background:
- Environmental conditions significantly influence poultry growth and productivity.
- Understanding the long-term effects of early-life climate exposure is crucial for optimizing poultry farming.
- Acclimatization to heat stress is a key factor in maintaining bird health and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of early-life artificial climates on subsequent laying performance in Warren Isabrown female chicks.
- To determine if rearing birds in hot climates (dry or humid) improves their acclimatization to heat stress during the laying period.
- To assess the effects of different rearing temperatures on body weight gain, food intake, energy intake, and sexual maturity.
Main Methods:
- Three hundred day-old chicks were reared for 18 weeks under three distinct artificial climates: temperate (20°C, 60% RH), hot dry (32°C, 40% RH), and hot humid (32°C, 90% RH).
- Chicks were fed different diets during the growing period, with energy intake adjusted to achieve similar average live body weights at 18 weeks.
- Post-18 weeks, birds were re-allocated to similar air-conditioned laying rooms, and performance parameters were measured until 38 weeks.
Main Results:
- Rearing energy requirements were similar across all climate groups to achieve target body weight.
- Most laying period parameters were not significantly affected by the growing period's climate treatment (P > 0.05).
- Hot climates during the laying period negatively impacted body weight gain, food intake, and energy intake (P < 0.05), irrespective of rearing conditions, with the exception of sexual maturity.
Conclusions:
- Ambient temperature experienced during the first 18 weeks post-hatching has minimal effect on subsequent poultry productivity.
- Rearing poultry at high ambient temperatures does not enhance their acclimatization to heat stress during the laying period compared to temperate rearing.
- Environmental management during the laying phase is critical for mitigating negative impacts of heat stress on poultry performance.