Broiler behavior differs from males to females when under different light wavelengths.

It is well established that different light wavelengths affect broiler behavior. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of four light wavelengths on broiler behavior from 1 to 42 days of age. Birds were housed at a stocking density of 13 birds/m2, in 32 boxes of 1.56 m2. The experimental design was a completely randomized factorial of 4 × 2 (four colors × two sexes), with four replicates. Behavioral variables were accessed through cameras and observed in person thrice a week for 30 min per day in three different periods. Data were organized according to age groups and analyzed by a data mining approach with the different light wavelengths as the classes. Natural behavior defined by stretch, dust bath of male broilers reared in environments with green and blue light was more relevant to the classification of male broilers' behavior (96.9 and 96.9% accuracy and 0.8 and 1.0 of class precision of behavior classification, respectively). Blue and green lights affected the behavior of male broilers starting at 7 days of age, increasing the presence at the bird feeder, and reducing the idle period.

Structural equation models for slaughtering weight prediction for broilers.

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of gut health parameters on the flock's final weight of broilers and to calculate an accurate equation to estimate this weight with information available at 7, 14, and 21 days, in field conditions. Gut health parameters (gizzard erosion, coccidiosis, feed passage, and redness, gut tone, consistency of content, and presence of mucus for each part of the small intestine [duodenum, jejunum, and ileum], and color, consistency, and presence of gas for caeca content) were evaluated at 7 and 14 days. Other parameters evaluated for impact on flock final weight were body weight and mortality, both at 7, 14, and 21 days; stocking density; litter reuse; and downtime period. Structural equation model evaluation of the data showed that stocking density and litter reuse did not affect (P > 0.05) flock final weight, while downtime period, body weight (14 and 21 days), and mortality (14 and 21 days) directly affected (P ≤ 0.05) the flock final weight. Gut health parameters did not directly affect the flock's final weight; however, they affected body weight and mortality at 14 days, thus showing an indirect effect on the flock's final weight. It was also possible to determine two accurate equations to estimate the flock's final weight using information available at both 14 (R2 = 0.56) and 21 (R2 = 0.77) days.

Behavioral responses of turkeys subjected to different climatic conditions.

I was evaluated the effect of seven different combinations of temperature, air velocity, and relative air humidity on the frequency and duration of eating, drinking, resting, cannibalism, dust bathing, scratching, ground pecking, shivering, and stretching behaviors of turkeys at three different ages. The combinations tested of temperature, relative air humidity, and air velocity were, respectively: 1 (22 °C, 50%, 1 m/s); 2 (26.2 °C, 73.2%, 0.45 m/s); 3 (26.6 °C, 71.2%, 1 m/s); 4 (28.9 °C, 72%, 1.4 m/s); 5 (31.1 °C, 85%, 0.45 m/s); 6 (34.1 °C, 82.1%, 1 m/s); and 7 (34.4 °C, 82.1%, 1.4 m/s) for three ages of birds (61, 96, and 131 days of age). Seven birds were housed per pen, at a density of 3 males/m2, totaling 147 birds in the entire experiment. Each combination was applied for 5 days. The data were analyzed considering the number of times the bird performed the behavior and the time it performed (in seconds). Each pen was considered a repetition. A comparison of the medians was used to compare the treatments by each age. The results showed that young birds were more likely to suffer from the combination of low temperature and high air velocity, reducing their frequency of normal behaviors. Increased humidity at a low temperature raised the frequency of scratching, shivering, and cannibalism behaviors leading to poorer bird welfare. It is recommended that the temperature, relative air humidity, and air velocity combination of 26.6 °C; 71.2%; and 1 m/s, respectively, for young birds, and 22 °C; 50%; and 1 m/s, respectively, for older birds should be used.

Evaluation of different heating systems for new-born swine.

The use of heating systems for new-born piglets can prevent major losses in the first 5 weeks of life. The present study had the objective of evaluating three heating systems in creeps for new-born piglets, being: floor-heated floor with circulating water (HF), incandescent lamp type SPOT 40 W (L) and incandescent lamp type SPOT 40 W plus black metal plate (LP). The variables evaluated were piglet performance (total weight gain and mortality), bioclimatic data (temperature and relative air humidity), animal behaviour and economic revenue. Bioclimatic data were recorded in the external environment, in the maternity and in the interior of each shelter/creep for 21 days, three times a day, as well as the capture of photographic images for analysis of the animals' disposal. The mean temperature of the retractors, the weight at weaning and the weight gain were higher in the HF treatment. Treatment HF improved the percentage of dispersed animals and provided the best thermal environment and the highest revenue at the time of the commercialization of the piglets.