Effect of body temperature of heavy broiler breeders on resistance to heat of their progeny
2010
De Basilio, Vasco | Bastidas, H. | Salas, C. | Bastianelli, Denis
This trial aimed at studying the effects of the body temperature (BT) of heavy broiler breeders (HBB) on the productive parameters and the resistance to heat of the broilers of their progeny. The experiment was done on two phases: (1) measurements on breeders were done in the commercial hatchery, whereas (2) the tests on broilers were done in the poultry unit of UCV. In phase 1, 280 HBB of line L1 (Ross x Ross) and 280 HBB of line L2 (Hybro) were tested for their rectal body temperature (BT) and level of hyperventilation (LH) during periods of high ambient temperature. The animals were split into two groups: higher BT (HBT, 41.26±0.01°C) and lower BT (LBT, 40.9±0.08°C). Egg production, fertility and hatchability were recorded. A total of 400 chicks (100 of lower of higher parent BT for both lines) were raised in same environmental conditions, and tested for BT, LH and productive parameters. Egg production did not differ between breeders HBT or LBT. Fertility was significantly higher in L2 (98.5±0.08) than in L1 (96.02±0.61). In phase 2 weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion did not differ between animals issued from lower or higher BT parents. At day 36 during a heat challenge (TA=37°C), the BT of animals from L2 issued from parents of higher BT was higher (43.2±0.092 vs 42.7 ± 0.08, p<0.01) whereas this difference was not significant in line L1. Mortality during heat challenge was also 40% higher for these animals. These results suggest than there can be a heritability of BT characteristics, which could have an effect on the resistance of broilers to heat stress. (Résumé d'auteur)
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