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Free-Choice Feeding and Three Temperature Treatments

Department of animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (612) 624-6263; FAX: (612) 625-5789

Correspondence: Craig N. Coon

The experiment studied the effect of high environmental temperature on the nutrient requirements of growing broilers. Diets with increased concentrations of protein (amino acids) have been commonly use to overcome the reduction in feed intake and weight gain in birds exposed to higher temperatures. Broilers chose from two diets, one low and one high in protein. Production and slaughter variables were observed in male and female broilers reared under 21.1°C, 26.7°C, or 32.2°C for a period of nineteen weeks to evaluate the effect of temperatures and sex. As expected, the high environmental temperature significantly decreased body weight, average weight gain, feed intake, and weight of the cut-up carcass parts. Broilers reared under high environmental temperature chose a diet lower in total protein starting between 6 and 7 wk of age. Weight of the breast was negatively influenced by high temperature two weeks earlier (5 wk of age) than in the case of drumstick and thigh.

Key Words: Broilers • cut-up carcass parts • free-choice feeding • high temperature