Due to changes in genetics and nutrition, as well as in acclimatization of broiler chickens to the Brazilian climate, temperature values currently accepted as optimal may be outdated. The objective of this research was to update the environment temperatures that characterize the thermal comfort for broilers chickens from one to 21 days of age, under Brazilian production conditions. This research was conducted with 600 COBB birds, which were distributed in five growth chambers maintained at different temperatures during the first three weeks of age. During the experimental period, temperature values were progressively reduced, consisting in five treatments: T2724/21, T30/27/24, T33/30/27, T36/33/30 and T39/36/33. It was observed that the birds maintained in the T30 27-24 treatment presented better performance compared to other environment conditions. Based on the obtained regression models, the environment temperature values that provide greater weighing gain for the broiler chicken growth in the initial period were 31.3, 25.5 and 21.8 °C, respectively for the first, second and third week of age.KEYWORDS: thermal stress, aviculture, performance.
ATUALIZAÇÃO DAS TEMPERATURAS DE CONFORTO TÉRMICO
The simulation of poultry house thermal behavior with and without Adiabatic Evaporative Cooling (SRAE) allows the decision makers to evaluate the economical feasibility and the installation costs of a poultry production business. The first step in this research investigation was test the thermal behavior model developed by Gates et al. (1995) for broiler houses in the United States based on the hypothesis that this model, using climatized sheds, as proposed by the authors, could be used under Brazilian conditions. The model is suitable for the proposed objective in the form proposed by Gates et al. (1995) for poultry houses with an elevated mass air flow rate (120.8 kg air s-1 or higher). A correction factor referring to a series of heat sources not included in the model, or the inclusion of these sources, is necessary for poultry houses without a high mass air flow.
Avaliou-se a temperatura e a espessura de cama ideal para os sistemas de aquecimento elétrico (fibra de vidro e argamassa armada), em relação a temperatura ambiental, a partir de testes realizados em galpão para aves, na EMBRAPA-CNPSA. Os valores de temperatura em cada ponto determinado foram coletados de 5 em 5 minutos. O sistema permaneceu em funcionamento até a superfície superior de cama sobre a placa atingir o valor de 35ºC. O sistema mais adequado foi aquele em que a espessura da argamassa e a espessura da fibra de vidro foram 0,06m e 0,08m, respectivamente, com uma espessura de cama total, fora do círculo, de 0,11m.
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