Daily feed use, water use, body weight, and mortality of Cobb x Cobb male broilers over 8-wk growout periods were measured for 10 consecutive growouts in four commercial-scale broiler houses (121.0 x 12.1 m each). Polynomial equations were developed to relate bird age to body weight, daily feed and water use, cumulative weekly feed and water use, and cumulative mortality. Weekly feed conversion was derived from growth and feed use data and was depicted by a third-order polynomial equation. Dead bird weight was calculated using mortality and body weight of the broilers and related to bird age with three polynomial equations over the growth period. Total dead bird weight averaged 76 kg per 1,000 birds placed, of which 10 kg or 13% occurred during the first 5 wk and the remaining 66 kg or 87% occurred during the last 3 wk of the growout periods. Results of this study provide a realistic data base for mathematical modeling of production responses and a guideline for management planning in commercial male broiler operation.
This article describes the spatial and diurnal patterns of air temperature and relative humidity (RH) in commercial-scale broiler houses (12 ¥ 122 m, 40 ¥ 400 ft) using experimental conventional and tunnel heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. The experimental broiler houses used 76-cm (2.5-ft) side curtains and combined mechanical and natural ventilation. Heating was provided by propane brooders and space furnaces. Cooling was accomplished with side-mounted cooling fans and misting nozzles in the conventional houses, but with fans and evaporative cooling pads in the tunnel houses. Interior mixing fans, arranged to circulate air in a "racetrack" fashion, were used in the tunnel houses.
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