Summary
The performance of temperate breeds or strains of poultry is often reduced in tropical climates. Although drop in production due to thermal stress anorexia may be partly prevented by compensatory adjustment of the ration, suitably designed housing is necessary to reduce the environmental heat load to which birds may be exposed and to secure optimum conditions for their heat dissipation. The design, siting and orientation of many modern poultry houses in Africa, India and Malaysia indicate that the principles of thermal exchange are not sufficiently widely known or, if known, are too often ignored.
This paper attempts to assist with the problem by presenting practical recommendations based on elementary principles of thermal exchange and relevant biometeorological knowledge.
Résumé
Les performances des races ou souches de volailles des régions tempérées sont souvent diminuées en climat tropical. Bien que la chute de la production due à l'anorexie provoquée par le stress thermique puisse être en partie supprimée par un ajustement compensatoire de la ration, un logement convenablement conçu est nécessaire pour réduire la chaleur environnante à laquelle les volailles peuvent être exposées et assurer les conditions optimales de dissipation de cette chaleur. Le plan, l'emplacement et l'orientation de nombreux poulaillers modernes en Afrique, aux Indes et en Malaisie, montrent que les principes favorisant les échanges thermiques ne sont pas suffisamment connus.
Resumen
La producción de razas o líneas de aves aclimatadas se reduce con frecuencia en climas tropicales. Aun cuando las bajas en la producción, ocasionadas por el ‘stress’ calórico, anorexia, pueden ser parcialmente prevenidas ajustando las raciones alimenticias, son necesarios los alojamientos adecuadamente diseñados para reducir la masa de calor ambiental a que las aves puedan estar expuestas y para asegurar condiciones óptimas en la evaporación del calor corporal. El diseño, ubicación y orientación de muchos alojamientos modernos para aves en el Africa, India y Malasia indican que los principios de intercambio calórico no han sido dados a conocer suficientemente.
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Ferguson, W. Poultry housing in the tropics: Applying the principles of thermal exchange. Trop Anim Health Prod 2, 44–58 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02359329
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02359329