Thermal acclimation of broiler birds by intermittent heat exposure

• Broiler birds can be acclimatized to heat stress by intermittent heat exposure.
• Birds attained a plateau in acclimation after 7 d of exposure.
• Birds performance was not affected by 2 h of daily heat exposure.
• Acclimation protects birds from heat stress mortality till marketing age.

Heat stress impairs the performance of broilers which increases the economic losses. Effect of duration of heat exposure on performance and acclimatory responses in broiler birds was investigated. At 21 d of age 160 Hubbard birds (80 males+80 females) were equally distributed into 5 treatments (T). The T1, T2, T3 and T4 were acclimated by daily exposure to heat (38±1 °C, 62±2% RH) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 h/d, respectively, for 14 d. T0 was the non-acclimated control (kept at 22±2 °C, 65±2% RH). At 36 d of age the thermotolerance of all birds was evaluated under simulated heat wave conditions by exposing them to an acute heat stress (43±1 °C, 55±3% RH) for 4 h. Body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were not affected in T2 and T3, while T3 and T4 showed significant reductions in BW, ADG and ADFI compared to the control. Daily changes in ADFI/kg of metabolic BW (ADFI/BW0.75), rectal temperature (Tr), rate of increase in rectal temperature (RITr) and evaporative water loss (EWL) showed biphasic patterns of acclimatory responses. The 2 phases were distinctly differentiated by plateau days. Phase 1 characterized by a sharp decline in ADFI/BW0.75 followed by a gradual increase until the plateau, while Tr, RITr and EWL increased sharply followed by gradual decreases until the plateau. Beyond the plateau (phase 2), homeostatic responses in ADFI/BW0.75, Tr, RITr and EWL were observed toward the end of the study. Acclimated birds were able to withstand the simulated heat wave with 0% mortality, lower Tr, and longer survival time compared to the control. In conclusion, acclimation could protect birds from acute heat waves and associated heat stress mortality until marketing age. However, applicability of these results towards the industry needs further investigations.