Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions

Arda Sözcü; Seyit Uğuz

doi:10.34233/jpr.1684062

Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted on 12 broiler flocks (Ross 308) reared during the spring and autumn seasons on commercial farms in Bursa and its districts, in a contracted production model under an integrator firm. Broiler performance parameters, including final body weight, cumulative feed and water intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR), along with environmental parameters such as temperature, relative humidity (RH), and CO2 concentration, were monitored over a 42-day growing period. The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) was calculated using average temperature and RH data. While body weight and feed intake remained consistent across seasons, FCR was more efficient in spring (1.38 vs. 1.53, P<0.05). The back-side temperature was higher in the spring than in the autumn (28.8ºC vs. 27.9ºC, P<0.001). The back size THI with a value of 80.1 was found to be higher in the spring compared to the autumn (78.4, P<0.01). The CO2 concentration was found to be higher in the autumn (1801.1 ppm) than the spring (1415.1 ppm, P<0.001). These findings clearly showed that the season affects economic performance through FCR. Investigating the potential positive or negative effects of the seasons could provide crucial insights for developing new strategies to optimize flock management and improve welfare standards in broiler production.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK. project no: 120O531). This study was organized and performed in Hastavuk Company (Bursa, Turkey).

Project Number

TUBITAK. project no: 120O531

Ethical Statement

The ethical approval is not required for this study. This is a study field performed by standard free-range process. Any animal was suffered during this study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Poultry Farming and Treatment

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Arda Sözcü
0000-0002-0955-4371
Türkiye

Seyit Uğuz ^*
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 25, 2025

Submission Date

February 26, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 22 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.34233/jpr.1684062

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA98US34RX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Sözcü, A., & Uğuz, S. (2025). Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions. Journal of Poultry Research, 22(1), 18-23. https://doi.org/10.34233/jpr.1684062

AMA

1.Sözcü A, Uğuz S. Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions. JPR. 2025;22(1):18-23. doi:10.34233/jpr.1684062

Chicago

Sözcü, Arda, and Seyit Uğuz. 2025. “Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions”. Journal of Poultry Research 22 (1): 18-23. https://doi.org/10.34233/jpr.1684062.

EndNote

Sözcü A, Uğuz S (June 1, 2025) Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions. Journal of Poultry Research 22 1 18–23.

IEEE

[1]A. Sözcü and S. Uğuz, “Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions”, JPR, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 18–23, June 2025, doi: 10.34233/jpr.1684062.

ISNAD

Sözcü, Arda - Uğuz, Seyit. “Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions”. Journal of Poultry Research 22/1 (June 1, 2025): 18-23. https://doi.org/10.34233/jpr.1684062.

JAMA

1.Sözcü A, Uğuz S. Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions. JPR. 2025;22:18–23.

MLA

Sözcü, Arda, and Seyit Uğuz. “Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions”. Journal of Poultry Research, vol. 22, no. 1, June 2025, pp. 18-23, doi:10.34233/jpr.1684062.

Vancouver

1.Arda Sözcü, Seyit Uğuz. Seasonal Impacts on Thermal Comfort and Growth Performance of Broilers in Commercial Conditions. JPR. 2025 Jun. 1;22(1):18-23. doi:10.34233/jpr.1684062