Thermal Comfort, Growth Performance and Welfare of Olive Pulp Fed Broilers during Hot Season

Anna Dedousi (), Maria-Zoi Kritsa and Evangelia N. Sossidou
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Anna Dedousi: Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Maria-Zoi Kritsa: Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Evangelia N. Sossidou: Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: This study evaluated the nutritional effect of dried olive pulp (OP), on broilers’ thermal comfort, growth parameters and welfare in a commercial poultry farm during the hot season. A number of 108 Cobb male broilers, 19 d olds were allocated into three dietary groups: controls (CON), OP3 and OP6, based on the level of OP added to their diet (0%, 3% and 6%). The thermal comfort of broilers was assessed using the temperature–humidity index (THI). Broilers’ body temperature (BT) was determined weekly. OP beneficially affected the growth performance of broilers undergoing very severe heat stress, as indicated by the increased body weight gain (BWG) recorded in OP groups compared to CON during the first week of the experiment and the higher body weight (BW) of OP fed chickens at 26 d of age ( p < 0.05). At 26 d of age, OP6 broilers had lower BT (40.55 ± 0.06 °C) than CON (40.78 ± 0.09 °C) ( p < 0.05). A positive dietary effect of OP in welfare parameters like feather cleanliness and panting behaviour of chickens fed 6% OP was also recorded. Using OP as feedstuff is a promising feeding strategy for alleviating the adverse effects of heat stress; it also offers the potential to recycle olive by-products, leading to an efficient waste-based circular economy.

Keywords: thermal comfort; broilers; olive pulp; growth performance; welfare; behaviour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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