Effectiveness of a Novel Method to Reduce Heat Stress in Broilers: A Cool Roost System

Okelo, P. O.; Carr, L. E.; Harrison, P. C.; Douglass, Larry W.; Byrd, Veronica; Wabeck, C. W.; Schreuders, Paul; Wheaton, F. W.; Zimmermann, N. G.

doi:10.13031/2013.15638

Cited by 10 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Perches in enriched cages, enriched colonies, and cage-free aviaries could be modified as cooling devices to improve hens’ thermal comfort, health, and welfare. Previous studies have reported that cooled perches improve broiler welfare and growth performance, including decreased mortality, improved feed efficiency, and body weight under HS [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. However, limited studies have been conducted in laying hens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perches as Cooling Devices for Reducing Heat Stress in Caged Laying Hens: A Review

Xiong

Gates

et al. 2021

Animals

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Heat stress is one of the most detrimental environmental challenges affecting the biological process and the related production performance of farm animals, especially in poultry. Commercial laying hens have been bred (selected) for high egg production, resulting in increased sensitivity to heat stress due to breeding-linked metabolic heat production. In addition, laying hens are prone to heat stress due to their inadequate species-specific cooling mechanisms resulting in low heat tolerance. In addition, hens have no sweat glands and feathering covers almost their entire body to minimize body heat loss. The poultry industry and scientists are developing cooling methods to prevent or reduce heat stress-caused damage to chicken health, welfare, and economic losses. We have designed and tested a cooling system using perches, in which chilled water (10 °C) circulates through a conventional perch passing through the layer cages to offer the cooling potential to improve hen health, welfare, and performance during acute and chronic periods of heat stress (35 °C). This review summarizes the outcomes of a multi-year study using the designed cooled perch system. The results indicate that conducting heat from perching hens directly onto the cooled perch system efficiently reduces heat stress and related damage in laying hens. It provides a novel strategy: perches, one key furnishment in cage-free and enriched colony facilities, could be modified as cooling devices to improve thermal comfort for hens during hot seasons, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions.

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