The Role of Photoperiod and Melatonin on Alleviation of the Negative Impact of Heat Stress on Broilers (original) (raw)
Related papers
International Journal of Poultry Science, 2007
Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of lighting program and melatonin addition to the diet on the immune responses of broiler chickens under chronic heat stress. In the first experiment, two groups of male broiler chickens received Continuous Light (CL) (23L: 1D) while another two groups received Intermittent Light (IL) (1L: 3D). From 4 to 6 wk of age, a group from each light program was exposed to 35°C versus 24°C for the other two groups. Heat stressed chickens under IL had significantly lower (p<0.05) body temperatures, pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and corticosterone concentrations in their plasma, compared to the heat stressed chickens under CL. Furthermore, in the heat stressed groups, the IL group had a significantly higher (p<0.05) cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response and T-cell proliferation, compared to the CL group. In the second experiment, two groups of male broiler chickens were fed a diet containing melatonin (40 ppm), while the other two groups received a melatonin free diet (0 ppm), from 4 to 6 wk of age. Concurrently, a group from each melatonin treatment was exposed to 35°C versus 24°C in the other group. The heat stressed chickens receiving melatonin had significantly lower (p<0.05) body temperatures, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6 and corticosterone concentrations. Furthermore, in the heat stressed birds, the melatonin group had a higher but not significant cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response and T-cell proliferation. The current study indicates that intermittent light and melatonin administration can be used to ameliorate immunosuppression associated with heat stress in broiler chickens.
Animals
The effects of heat stress on broiler performance and immunological response were explored using lighting-program manipulation as a potential tool. The study included 200 Cobb500 broiler chicks that were one day old at the time of recruitment. The birds were divided into four-compartment groups with similar environments (five cages per compartment, ten chicks per cage). Starting from the fourth day of age, birds of two compartments received a continuous lighting program (23L:1D a day; C.L. groups) while birds of the other two compartments received an intermittent lighting program (1L:3D 6 times per day; I.L. groups). Within each lighting program during 22–42 d of age, one group was subjected either to a thermoneutral temperature at 24 °C or heat stress at 35 °C. The results reveal that stress biomarkers, especially the plasma concentrations of corticosterone (CORT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were relieved by 46%, 27%, and 51%, respectively, in th...
Techniques to Minimize the Effects of Acute Heat Stress or Chronic in Broilers
Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 2019
High environmental temperature is limiting factor in broiler production. In order to minimize the undesirable consequences of acute or chronic heat stress, the techniques of fixed dietary electrolyte balance and early heat conditioning were evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible interactions and effects of dietary electrolyte balance and early heat conditioning on feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio, mortality, energy bioeconomic index, fecal moisture, abdominal fat, and breast meat color (L*a*b*) of broilers submitted to chronic or acute heat stress. In total, 1280 chicks, were equally divided in experiment I (chronic heat stress, 6h/day at 32ºC from 35 to 39 d of age) and II (acute heat stress, 36 ºC for 6h at 38 days of age). The data of both experiments were combined and analyzed according to a 2x2x2 factorial arrangement (early heat conditioning (ETC) or not; fixed dietary electrolyte balance (EB) or not; and exposure to acute or chronic heat stress). ETC consisted of exposing 5-d-old birds to 36.0 °C for 24 hours. No interaction among the evaluated factors was detected. Birds exposed to acute heat stress presented significantly higher compared with chronic heat stress. Fixed dietary EB resulted in significantly higher fecal moisture. Lower abdominal fat percentage was obtained in birds exposed to chronic relative to acute heat stress. Higher breast meat L* and b* values were observed in birds exposed to acute heat stress than those submitted to chronic heat stress, indicating worse meat quality.
Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2016
Background: Heat stress is one of the most important environmental stressors challenging poultry production worldwide. Understanding and controlling environmental stressors is crucial for successful poultry production. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of melatonin supplementation and darkness regime on reducing the negative effects of heat stress in broiler chickens. METHODS: A total of 400 broiler chickens (Arian) were obtained and subjected to four different groups. The control chickens were grown in normal conditions without receiving any treatment. The positive control birds were grown similar to the control but exposed to an acute heat stress for 6 h/d from days 35 to 40. The dark group chickens were reared under a dark schedule and exposed to heat stress. The birds of the fourth group were reared similar to the positive control but received 40 ppm melatonin in the diet from days 30 to 40 of age. Dead birds were autopsied. The weekly growt...
Impact of Melatonin on Improving Productive Traits of Broiler Exposed to Environmental Stress
Advances in animal and veterinary sciences, 2024
During a five-week trial, this study investigated the impact of various levels and methods of adding melatonin to water and diets on the growth performance of broiler chickens. One day old, 400 Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five random groups, with each group being quadruplicated and 20 birds allocated to each replication. Melatonin was supplemented in the G1 control group. G2 received 10 mg of melatonin per kg of diet, G3 received 20 mg of melatonin per kg of diet, G4 received 10 mg of melatonin per liter, and G5 received 20 mg of melatonin per liter, respectively. All groups' chicks were exposed to heat stress (30-35-30 °C) during the breeding period. Our results showed a significant increase (p ≤ 0.01) for the G5 group in live body weight (LBW) and cumulative weight gain (W.G.). The study compared the feed intake (F.I.) and relative growth rate (RGR) of this group with those of other groups. It found a significant improvement in feed intake (F.I.) for all melatonin additions. When comparing total mortality to the G1 group, there was a significant improvement for the G3, G4, and G5 groups, with rates of 1.449, 1.467, and 1.425 respectively, in feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the G1 group, which had a rate of 1.563.
Effect of chronic heat stress on broiler chicks performance and immune system
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of exposure to chronic heat stress on broiler chick performance and immune system. Also, the effect of adding probiotics was evaluated. Our results revealed that chicks exposed to chronic heat stress showed significantly decreased final body weight at 6th week of age 1601.67±27.44 grams (gms) as compared to control chicks that weighed 1816.67±8.33 gms, at the same age. While, their feed conversion ratio was 2.14±0.20 and in control group it was 2.08±0.21. Adding probiotics to control or heat stressed chicks improved their performance, as body weights at 6th week were 1918.67±8.33 gms and 1765±17.56 gms in in both groups, respectively. Meanwhile, their feed conversion ratio decreased. There were negative impact of chronic heat stress on immune organs / body weight ratios (bursa, spleen and thymus) as they were significantly reduced. The lowest ratios were 0.15±0.26, 0.21±0.03 and 0.13±0.01, for bursa, spleen and thymus, respect...
Criteria for Evaluating Husbandry Practices to Alleviate Heat Stress in Broilers
The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 2003
This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of management techniques used under heat stress on growth as well as developmental instability, duration of tonic immobility (TI), and heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (H:L) of broilers. Three-hundred sixty cockerels obtained from a commercial hatchery were randomly assigned to 12 floor pens. When the cockerels reached 21 d of age, three pens were kept as controls. Broilers in the other nine pens were moved to a room heated from 32 to 35°C between 1000 and 1700 h each day from 21 to 42 d of age. Broilers in the heated room were randomized into three treatment groups consisting of 1) conditioned (chicks exposed to 36°C for 24 h at 5 d of age), 2) feed-restricted (during the heat stress, feed was withdrawn 2 h before the hot period, and chicks were fed between 1700 and 0800 h), 3) and heat-stressed only. Conditioned and feed-restricted broilers gained 3.2 and 2.8%, respectively, more BW than heat-stressed broilers. Relative asymmetry (RA) averaged across several bilateral traits for the prolonged heat stressor was more informative than the RA for a single bilateral trait. Corrrelations suggest that RA were not closely associated with duration of TI and H:L under the conditions of this experiment.
Italian Journal of Animal Science
The impact of dietary regimens on productive traits, meat quality, physiological adoption, immunological response and digestibility of nutrients was studied using Ross-308 and Cobb-500 strains. Chickens were reared under normal brooding conditions during most of the experimental period, but exposed to heat stress [(HS); 32 C and 55% RH] during 20-22 and 28-30 d of age. During 1-18 d of age, broilers were fed a standard-protein diet [(SPD); 22% crude protein (CP) with 12.97 MJ/kg], a high-protein diet [(HPD); 24% CP with 12.97 MJ/kg], or a high-protein with high-metabolisable energy (ME) diet [(HPMED); 24% CP with 13.60 MJ/kg]. During 19-35 d of age, the SPD group was fed 20% CP with 13.42 MJ/kg, the HPD group was fed 22% CP with 13.42 MJ/kg, and the HPMED group was fed 22% CP with 14.06 MJ/kg. Each group within each strain was replicated six times with five chicken males each. For the whole experimental period, Ross and Cobb chickens fed the HPMED showed higher BWG than chickens on the HPD. Broilers fed the HPMED had improved FCR compared to those on the SPD, independent of broiler strain. Further, independent of broiler strain, the HPMED regimen increased the dry matter, protein, and lipid contents of meat compared to the other regimens, and decreased cloacal temperature, respiration rate and Heterophile/lymphocyte (H/L ratio) compared to the HPD regimen. Growth and feed utilisation, percentage thymus, protein in meat were improved of Ross compared to Cobb, but abdominal fat, meat lipid and pH were decreased. On the other hand, Cobb on HPD had lower cloacal temperature and respiration rate than Ross strain, suggesting that production, physiology and immunological response of broiler chickens depend on feeding regimen that should be specific for each strain.
Strategies for preventing heat stress in poultry
World's Poultry Science Journal, 2006
Their higher production performance and feed conversion efficiency make today's chickens more susceptible to heat stress than ever before. The increasing proportion of poultry production in tropical and subtropical regions makes it necessary to reconsider the long-term selection strategy of today's commercial breeding programmes. Also, the importance of the potential use of Naked neck and Frizzle genes is accentuated. Nutritional strategies aimed to alleviate the negative effects of heat stress by maintaining feed intake, electrolytic and water balance or by supplementing micronutrients such as Vitamins and minerals to satisfy the special needs during heat stress have been proven advantageous. To enhance the birds' thermotolerance by early heat conditioning or feed restriction seems to be one of the most promising management methods in enhancing the heat resistance of broiler chickens in the short run. AERTS, J-M., BERCKMANS, D., SAEVELS, P., DECUYPERE, E. and BUYSE, J. (2000) Modelling the static and dynamic responses of total heat production of broiler chickens to step changes in air temperature and light intensity. British Poultry Science 41: 651-659. AIT-BOULAHSEN, A., GARLICH, J.D. and EDENS, F.W. (1995) Potassium chloride improves the thermotolerance of chickens exposed to acute heat stress. Poultry Science 74: 75-87. ALLEMAN, F. and LECLERCQ, B. (1997) Effect of dietary protein and environmental temperature on growth performance and water consumption of male broiler chickens. British Poultry Science 38: 607-610. ALMIRALL, M., COS, R., ESTEVE-GARCIA E. and BRUFAU, J. (1997) Effect of inclusion of sugar beet pulp, pelleting and season on laying hen performance. British Poultry Science 38: 530-536. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a selection criterion for heat resistance in domestic fowls. British Poultry Science 38: 159-163. ARJONA, A.A., DENBOW, D.M. and WEAVER, W.D. (1988) Effect of heat stress early in life on mortality of broilers exposed to high temperature just prior to marketing. Poultry Science 67: 226-231. Early age thermal conditioning and a dual feeding program for male broilers challenged by heat stress. Poultry Science 80: 29-36. (2004) Physiological responses of broiler chickens to heat stress and dietary electrolyte balance (sodium plus potassium minus chloride, milliequivalents per kilogram). Poultry Science 83: 1551-1558. BOTTJE, G. and HARRISON, P.C. (1985) The effects of tap water, carbonated water, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium chloride on blood acid-base balance in cockerels subjected to heat stress. Optimum dietary arginine: lysine ratio for broiler chickens in altered during heat stress in association with changes in intestinal uptake and dietary sodium chloride.
To Cite This Article: Tarek Mahmoud Mousa-Balabel, Radi Ali Mohamed, Wael Mohamed Mansour., Comparative study between blue colored light and some managemental trials to alleviate the negative effects of heat stress in broilers. Aust. BACKGROUND: Investigations have shown that heat stress is stressful to broiler chickens. Most of the major production problems and economic losses in the poultry sector all over the worldwide have been caused by heat stress. Higher growth rate, higher body temperature and lack of sweat gland of the broiler chicken may result in being very sensitive to heat stress. Any abrupt changes in the environmental temperature will affect the digestion and the absorption of the gastrointestinal tract of birds which in turn lead to loss or reduce of ingestive behavior. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study aimed to evaluate new methods (using blue colored light and adding honey bee in the drinking water) in comparison to feed withdrawing as a trial to alleviate the negative effect of heat stress on broilers. RESULTS: The results revealed that, the feed intake of birds reared in blue light (BL) and honey bee groups was significantly increased; leading subsequently to the highest body weight (BW), body weight gain (WG) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) in these groups in comparison to feed withdrawing and control groups. The mortality rate was significantly decreased in heat stressed birds by blue light and honey bee. Regarding bird behavior, birds reared under BL recorded the lowest time spent in dust bathing (30±6.65sec), feather ruffling (0.28±0.14), ground pecking (1.89±0.46) behaviors and tonic immobility duration (69.95±3.11sec). On the other hand, Heterophil-Lymphocyte ratio (H/L) was decreased and triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and Newcastle antibody titer were increased in birds reared under blue light compared with other treated groups.. CONCLUSION: From the results obtained in the current study, it is strongly recommended to use the blue light and the honey bee in heat stressed broiler farms to improve the bird welfare and economically accelerate subsequent recovery of growth performance with minimum feed intake.