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The Effect of Ventilation on Performance Body and Surface Temperature of Young Turkeys¹

Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

² Corresponding author: yahavs{at}agri.huji.ac.il

Efficient ventilation affects thermoregulation and, thereby, the performance of domestic fowl. This became crucial as genetic selection for growth development significantly coupled with increased metabolic rate. The specific aims of this study were to elucidate a) the effects of different rates of ventilation on young turkey performance during exposure to constant 35, 30, and 25°C and b) their effects on body temperature and surface temperature. In 3 separate experiments, turkeys were raised under regular conditions up to 3 wk of age. Thereafter, they were acclimated for 1 wk to the targeted ambient temperatures (T_a) and to air velocities of 0.8, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 m/s and raised under those conditions up to 6 wk of age. Turkeys exposed to 35°C performed optimally at an air velocity (AV) of 2 m/s; they exhibited significantly higher feed intake and significantly lower body temperature. At 30°C, performance was optimal at AV of 1.5 to 2.5 m/s and significantly lower at 0.8 m/s. Performance of turkeys exposed to 25°C did not vary with AV. Comparison of BW and feed intakes of turkeys exposed to the 3T_a levels revealed significantly higher feed intake at 25°C but similar BW compared with those exposed to 30°C, meaning that those exposed to 25°C used more energy for maintenance than for growth. In general, surface temperature of the body declined significantly with T_a, whereas that of the face and legs was significantly lower at 25°C. It can be concluded that AV affects the performance of young turkeys. The range of AV within which BW was optimal expanded as T_a declined. It can be further concluded that the combination of 30°C with AV from 1.5 to 2.5 m/s was optimal for young turkeys.

Key Words: ventilation • turkey • performance • body temperature • surface temperature

¹ Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 503/07.