Cool perch availability improves the performance and welfare status of broiler chickens in hot weather

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine whether water-cooled perches would be preferred by commercial broilers exposed to a hot ambient environment, and subsequently, whether utilization of these perches would improve performance and the well-being of birds, beyond those provided by normal perches. Four hundred and thirty-two 14-d-old male chickens from a commercial fast-growing strain (Arbor Acres) were housed in the following conditions: 1) cool perches, 2) normal perches, and 3) control pens with no perches. The results showed that there was greater use of cool perches than normal perches for broiler chickens during summer (F1, 4=125, P=0.0004). Cool perches increased BW gain (F2, 6=5.44, P=0.0449) and breast (F2, 24=3.31, P=0.0539) and thigh muscle yields (F2, 24=6.29, P=0.0063), while decreasing abdominal fat deposition (F2, 24=7.57, P=0.0028), cooking loss (pectoralis major, F2, 24=3.30, P=0.0542; biceps femoris, F2, 24=3.42, P=0.0493), percentage of panting birds (F2, 6=102, P<0.0001), and scores of footpad (F2, 6=122, P<0.0001) and hock (F2, 6=68.2, P<0.0001) burn, and abdominal plumage condition (F2, 6=52.0, P=0.0002), particularly toward the end of the rearing period. In contrast, normal perches hardly affected growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and behavioral patterns, and appeared to worsen the welfare status, including footpad and hock burns and abdominal plumage condition, due to a lower occupancy rate. Cool perches offer a thermoregulatory and performance advantage to broilers exposed to a hot environment and appear to be a management strategy for improving the production and well-being of commercial broilers.

Effects of stocking density, light and perches on broiler growth

“…Martrenchar et al () reported higher final body weights (2%) due to the presence of perches at a density of 22 birds/m 2 , males being slightly heavier, but not at other stocking densities. Similar results were reported by Zhao et al () after 6 weeks, and also by Zhao et al () but only at densities of 20 birds/m 2 . Perching frequency was significantly higher when birds were raised at stocking densities of 15 or 20 birds/m 2 (Pettit‐Riley & Estevez ).…”

The effects of perch cooling on performance, carcass, and meat quality characteristics and behaviour of broilers reared at high temperatures with different litter thicknesses

“…In line with a previous study (7,15,20,26), cooled perch has statistically significant effect on BW on d 28, 35, 42 and FCR at 0-35 d. It is said that perch cooling helped birds in coping with heat stimulation. It is determined that BW at 35 and 42 d, and FCR at 0-42 d was higher for the broilers reared at 1 cm litter thickness than those reared at 7 and 14 cm litter, although the difference between litter groups in terms of FCR at 0-42 d was not statistically significant.…”

“…The reason for this may be due to fast growth rate and therefore increased weight gain and higher body weight (BW) in early ages, and less physical activity of broilers in the following weeks (17). Broilers prefer to perch on cooled perch when exposed to hot weather, because they heat elimination of body by conduction (7,21,26). And, the cooled perch use contributes positively to the short life of modern lines of broiler chicks.…”

The Effect of Cooled Perches on Immunological Parameters of Caged White Leghorn Hens during the Hot Summer Months

“…A separate 4th pump continuously circulated the deionized water between the water chiller and the manifold. A sensor for monitoring air temperature was installed to the controller of each tier to activate or stop the circulation of chilled water through the perch loop when ambient temperature reached or fell below 25°C, respectively [ 75 ].…”

“…Increased conductive heat transfer from the feet to a thermally controlled perch helps chickens to relieve HS as that broiler breeder hens [ 72 ] and broiler chickens [ 73 ] improved growth performance with access to cooled perches during high temperatures [ 73 – 74 ]. Broiler chickens subjected to HS with access to cooled perches exhibited less panting and had reduced core body temperatures compared to controls [ 75 ]. Cooled perch availability increased body weight gain and feed efficiency of broiler chickens in high ambient temperatures regardless of stocking density [ 76 ].…”