Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T02:06:13.818Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Broilers’ behavioural adjustments when submitted to natural heat stress and fed different maize particle sizes in the diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2020

M. M. Santos
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biometeorology and Environmental Biophysics, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, Brazil
J. B. F. Souza-Junior*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biometeorology and Environmental Biophysics, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, Brazil
J. P. A. F. Queiroz
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biometeorology and Environmental Biophysics, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, Brazil
M. K. O. Costa
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
H. F. F. Lima
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Precision Nutrition, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, Brazil
A. M. V. Arruda
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Precision Nutrition, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, Brazil
L. L. M. Costa
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biometeorology and Environmental Biophysics, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: J. B. F. Souza-Junior, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Since behavioural adjustments are an important line of defence against thermal stress, either due to their energy efficiency or to efficiency at preventing overheating, we aimed to evaluate whether broilers fed different maize particle sizes adjusted their behaviour to deal with heat stress challenges. At several times a day, the behaviour of 220 naked neck broilers was evaluated. These broilers were fed with isonutritive diets containing maize with different geometric mean diameters (GMD): 605 and 2280 μm. The thermal environment was monitored during the experiment. Panting and open wings were the only behaviours that showed differences between the times of day (P < 0.05). However, GMD showed a significant effect on feed intake and panting (P < 0.05). The interaction between GMD and time of day was significant only on panting (P < 0.05). Although no daily variation was observed, the highest feed intake was observed in broilers fed the diet containing maize with a GMD of 2280 μm. Less than 5% of the broilers were observed drinking water during the day. Open wings was the behavioural adjustment most used by broilers from 10:00 h, and remained elevated until 14:00 h for both GMDs. The birds panted more when fed the diet containing maize with a GMD of 2280 μm. In conclusion, broilers adjust their behaviour to dissipate excess body heat from the environment and as a result of feed intake. Coarse particles of maize in the diet increase the thermal challenge of broilers since the environment also provides stressful thermal conditions.

Type
Animal Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Akbarian, A, Golian, A, Kermanshahi, H, De Smet, S and Michiels, J (2015) Antioxidant enzyme activities, plasma hormone levels and sérum metabolites of finishing broiler chickens reared under high ambient temperature and fed lemon and orange peel extracts and Curcuma xanthorrhiza essential oil. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 99, 150162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Altmann, J (1974) Observational study of behavior: sampling methods. Behaviour 49, 227265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Amerah, AM, Ravindran, V, Lentle, RG and Thomas, DG (2008) Influence of feed particle size on the performance, energy utilization, digestive tract development, and digesta parameters of broiler starters fed wheat-and corn-based diets. Poultry Science 87, 23202328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Attia, YA and Hassan, SS (2017). Broiler tolerance to heat stress at various dietary protein/energy levels. European Poultry Science, 81, 115.Google Scholar
Attia, YA, Barbara, M, Böhmer, and Roth-Maier, DA (2006) Responses of broiler chicks raised under constant relatively high ambient temperature to enzymes, amino acid supplementations, or a high-nutrient diet. Archiv Für Geflügelkunde, 70, 8091.Google Scholar
Attia, YA, El-Tahawy, WS, Abd El-Hamid, AE, Hassan, SS, Nizza, A and El-Kelaway, MI (2012) Effect of phytase with or without multienzyme supplementation on performance and nutrient digestibility of young broiler chicks fed mash or crumble diets. Italian Journal of Animal Science 11, 303308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Attia, YA, El-Tahawy, WS, Abd El-Hamid, AE, Nizza, A, El-Kelway, MI, Al-Harthi, MA and Bovera, F (2014) Effect of feed form, pellet diameter and enzymes supplementation on carcass characteristics, meat quality, blood plasma constituents and stress indicators of broilers. Archiv Tierzucht 57, 114.Google Scholar
Attia, YA, Al-Harthi, MA and El-Naggar, ASH (2018) Productive, physiological and immunological responses of two broiler strains fed different dietary regimens and exposed to heat stress. Italian Journal of Animal Science 17, 686697.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Attia, YA, El-Naggar, ASH, Abou-Shehema, BM and Abdella, AA (2019) Effect of supplementation with trimethylglycine (betaine) and/or vitamins on semen quality, fertility, antioxidant status, DNA repair and welfare of roosters exposed to chronic heat stress. Animals 9, 547.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Azoulay, Y, Druyan, S, Yadgary, L, Hadad, Y and Cahaner, A (2011) The viability and performance under hot conditions of featherless broilers versus fully feathered broilers. Poultry Science 90, 1929.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bokkers, EAM and Koene, P (2003) Behaviour of fast- and slow growing broilers to 12 weeks of age and the physical consequences. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 81, 5972.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Egbuniwe, IC, Ayo, JO and Ocheja, OB (2018) Betaine and ascorbic acid modulate indoor behavior and some performance indicators of broiler chickens in response to hot dry season. Journal of Thermal Biology 76, 3844.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
El-Deek, A and El-Sabrout, K (2019) Behaviour and meat quality of chicken under different housing systems. World's Poultry Science Journal 75, 105114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
El-Sabrout, K (2018) Effect of rearing system and season on behaviour, productive performance and carcass quality of rabbit: a review. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 6, 102108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Etches, RJ, John, TM and Gibbins, AMV (2008) Behavioural, physiological, neuroendocrine and molecular responses to heat stress. In Daghir, NJ (ed.), Poultry Production in Hot Climates. Trowbridge: Cromwell Press, pp. 4879.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fathi, MM, Galal, A, EL-Safty, S and Mahrous, M (2013) Naked neck and frizzle genes for improving chickens raised under high ambient temperature: I. Growth performance and egg production. World's Poultry Science Journal 69, 813832.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fronte, B, Bayram, I, Akkaya, AB, Rossi, G and Bagliacca, M (2013) Effect of corn particle size and inclusion of organic acid in the diet on growth performance and gastrointestinal structure in young chicks. Italian Journal of Animal Science 12, e93.Google Scholar
Giannini, TC, Costa, WF, Cordeiro, GD, Imperatriz-Fonseca, VL, Saraiva, AM, Biesmeijer, J and Garibaldi, LA (2017) Projected climate change threatens pollinators and crop production in Brazil. PLoS ONE, 12, e0182274.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gonçalves, SA, Ferreira, RA, Pereira, IG, Oliveira, CC, Amaral, PIS, Garbossa, CAP and Fonseca, LS (2017) Behavioral and physiological responses of different genetic lines of free-range broiler raised on a semi-intensive system. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 5, 112117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gowe, RS and Fairfull, RW (2008) Breeding for resistance to heat stress. In Daghir, NJ (ed.), Poultry Production in Hot Climates. Oxfordshire: CABI, pp. 1130.Google Scholar
IPCC. Climate Change (2014) Synthesis report. In Core Writing Team, Pachauri, RK and Meyer, LA (eds), Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp.Google Scholar
King'ori, AM (2011) Review of the factors that influence egg fertility and hatchability in poultry. International Journal of Poultry Science 10, 483492.Google Scholar
Kumari, KN and Nath, DN (2018) Ameliorative measures to counter heat stress in poultry. World's Poultry Science Journal 74, 117130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lima, RN, Souza, JBF Jr, Batista, NV, Andrade, AKS, Soares, ECA, Filho, CAS, Leonardo, LAS, Costa, LLM and Lima, PO (2019) Mitigating heat stress in dairy goats with inclusion of seaweed Gracilaria Birdiae in diet. Small Ruminant Research, 171, 8791.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, QW, Feng, JH, Chao, Z, Chen, Y, Wei, LM, Wang, F, Sun, RP and Zhang, MH (2016) The influences of ambient temperature and crude protein levels on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broilers. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 100, 301308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mack, LA, Felver-Gant, JN, Dennis, RL and Cheng, HW (2013) Genetic variations alter production and behavioral responses following heat stress in 2 strains of laying hens. Poultry Science 92, 285294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin, P and Bateson, P (2007) Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mascarenhas, NMH, Costa, ANL, Pereira, MLL, Caldas, ACA, Batista, LF and Andrade, ELG (2018) Thermal conditioning in the broiler production: challenges and possibilities. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 6, 5255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mohammed, AA, Jacobs, JA, Murugesan, GR and Cheng, HW (2018) Effect of dietary synbiotic supplement on behavioral patterns and growth performance of broiler chickens reared under heat stress. Poultry Science 97, 11011108.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Naderinejad, S, Zaefarian, F, Abdollahi, MR, Hassanabadi, A, Kermanshahic, H and Ravindran, V (2016) Influence of feed form and particle size on performance, nutrient utilisation, and gastrointestinal tract development and morphometry in broiler starters fed maize-based diets. Animal Feed Science and Technology 215, 92104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nawab, A, Ibtishama, F, Li, L, Kieserb, B, Wua, J, Liu, W, Zhaoa, Y, Nawab, Y, Li, K, Xiao, M and An, L (2018) Heat stress in poultry production: mitigation strategies to overcome the future challenges facing the global poultry industry. Journal of Thermal Biology 78, 131139.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palestis, BG and Burger, J (1998) Evidence for social facilitation of preening in the common tern. Animal Behaviour 56, 11071111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pawar, SS, Basavaraj, S, Dhansing, LV, Pandurang, KN, Sahebrao, KA, Vitthal, NA, Pandit, BM and Kumar, BS (2016) Assessing and mitigating the impact of heat stress in poultry. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 4, 332341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Queiroz, JPAF, Souza, JBF Jr, Lima, HFF, Costa, MKO, Costa, LLM and Arruda, AMV (2014) Daily variations in the thermoregulatory behaviors of naked neck broilers in an equatorial semi-arid environment. International Journal of Biometeorology, 58, 12591264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertshaw, D (2006) Mechanisms for the control of respiratory evaporative heat loss in panting animals. Journal Applied Physiology 101, 664668.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rostagno, HS, Albino, LFT, Donzele, JL, Paulo, CG, Rita, FO and Lopes, DC (2011) Tabelas brasileiras para aves e suínos: composição de alimentos e exigências nutricionais, 3rd Edn. Viçosa: UFV.Google Scholar
Safaa, HM, Moreno, EJ, Valencia, DG, Frikha, M, Serrano, MP and Mateos, GG (2009) Effect of main cereal of the diet and particle size of the cereal on productive performance and egg quality of brow egg laying hens in early phase of production. Poultry Science 88, 608614.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silva, RG (2000) Introdução à bioclimatologia animal. São Paulo, BR: Editora Nobel.Google Scholar
Silva, RC, Nascimento, JWB, Rodrigues, LR, Leite, PG, Sobrinho, TG and Furtado, DA (2017) Qualidade de ovos de codornas confinadas em ambiente termoneutro e de estresse térmico. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 5, 139143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Souza, JBF Jr, Oliveira, VRM, Arruda, AMV, Silva, AM and Costa, LLM (2015) The relationship between corn particle size and thermoregulation of laying hens in an equatorial semi-arid environment. International Journal of Biometeorology, 59, 121125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Syafwan, S, Kwakkel, RP and Verstegen, MWA (2011) Heat stress and feeding strategies in meat type chickens. World's Poultry Science Journal 67, 653674.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tickle, PG and Codd, JR (2019) Thermoregulation in rapid growing broiler chickens is compromised by constraints on radiative and convective cooling performance. Journal of Thermal Biology 79, 814.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, WC, Yan, FF, Hu, JY, Amen, AO and Cheng, HW (2018) Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic reduces heat stress-related behaviors and inflammatory response in broiler chickens. Journal of Animal Science 96, 16541666.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zanotto, DL and Bellaver, C (1996) Método de determinação da granulometria de ingredientes em rações de suínos e aves. Concórdia: EMBRAPA-CNPSA, (Comunicado Técnico, 215), pp. 15.Google Scholar