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The Energy Requirements and Performance of Growing Chickens and Turkeys as Affected by Environmental Temperature

1980; Elsevier BV; Volume: 59; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3382/ps.0592290

1525-3171

S. Hurwitz, M. WEISELBERG, U. Eisner, I. Bartov, G. Riesenfeld, Matitaho Sharvit, Ariela Niv, S. Bornstein,

Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health

The energy requirements for growth and maintenance were studied in male and female chicks and turkeys, kept in environmental chambers for 4 to 5 weeks following the brooding period. In both species and sexes, the maintenance requirement decreased with constant temperatures from 12 to 24 C, reaching a low between 24 and 28 C, followed by an increase as the temperature was raised further. At 12 C, the maintenance ranged between 2.45 and 2.70 kcal/g2/3, for chicks and turkeys, respectively. Requirements for weight gain averaged 1.87 kcal/g and .7 kcal/g in chicks and turkeys, respectively. This species difference was explained on the basis of carcass composition. Turkeys fed a high-protein diet had an apparently greater maintenance requirement than those fed a diet appropriate for their age. Weight gain decreased between 19 and 34 C in chicks and between 18 C and 32 C in turkeys. Feeding of a high protein diet tended to reduce but did not overcome the growth depression by temperature. In turkeys, weight gain at 12 C was inferior to that at 18 C for both sexes. The calculated amino acid per kilocalorie dietary requirements for 6-week-old chicks increased with temperature to a peak at 27 C, followed by a decrease as the temperature was raised further.