Temperature and light and broiler growth 2.

Abstract DURING the collection of heat and moisture production data from broilers (Reece et al., 1969), it was noted that when house temperatures rose above approximately 26–29°C. there was a drastic decrease in sensible heat removal from the broiler house. The birds were under continuous light in the heat and moisture production study. The decrease in sensible heat production with a subsequent decrease in total heat production during hours of high temperature indicated a possible change in the metabolism complex of the bird. One theory postulated was that the sensible heat production was an indicator of growth; that is, the birds were attaining most of their growth when the temperature was below 26–29° C. To test this theory, the following study was conducted. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Commercial broiler chicks were reared from 1 day to 3 weeks of age as a group for each of two repetitions using standard brooding…