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Effect of high ambient temperature on feed digestibility in broilers
S Bonnet1, P A Geraert, M Lessire
1Ecole Supérieure d'Agriculture, Angers, France.
Poultry Science
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Chronic heat exposure significantly reduces feed digestibility and nitrogen retention in broilers. This necessitates adjustments in diet formulation, favoring high-quality ingredients for poultry raised in hot environments.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Poultry Nutrition
- Environmental Physiology
Background:
- Poultry production is increasingly challenged by rising ambient temperatures due to climate change.
- Heat stress negatively impacts broiler performance, including feed intake, nutrient utilization, and overall health.
- Understanding the specific effects of heat on feed digestibility is crucial for optimizing broiler diets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic heat exposure on the feed digestibility and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens.
- To compare the effects of different dietary formulations (control vs. summer diet) under heat stress conditions.
- To provide data for formulating practical broiler diets suitable for hot environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Eighty 4-week-old male broiler chickens were housed in controlled environments at 22°C or 32°C.
- Three treatment groups were established: 22°C ad libitum (22AL), 32°C ad libitum (32AL), and 22°C pair-fed (22PF).
- Birds were fed either a standard corn-soybean meal diet or a practical summer diet; digestibility of energy, dry matter, protein, fat, starch, and nitrogen was measured.
Main Results:
- Heat exposure (32AL) significantly decreased the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of the summer diet but not the control diet.
- Nitrogen retention was significantly reduced in heat-exposed birds (32AL) compared to controls (22AL and 22PF).
- Nutrient digestibility decreased under heat stress, notably protein (-4.2%), fat (-1.7% to -5.2%), and starch (-4.2% for summer diet).
Conclusions:
- Chronic heat exposure impairs feed digestibility and nitrogen utilization in broilers, necessitating dietary adjustments.
- Diet formulation for broilers in hot climates should consider reduced nutrient digestibility and prioritize high-quality ingredients.
- Replacing low-quality feedstuffs with high-quality oil and protein sources is recommended for heat-stressed poultry.