Monitoring Poultry Deep Body Temperature Using Biotelemetry

The use of implanted biotelemetry sensors for measuring poultry deep body temperature responses to ambienttemperatures was investigated. The measurement procedure was validated in a two part study. In the first part, theambient temperature was held constant and measurements of deep body temperature were collected over 24 h periods todetect diurnal rhythms. In the second part, ambient temperature was increased above normal growing conditions anddeep body temperature responses to these increases were recorded. The telemetry measurement system was successful indetecting deep body temperature variations due to the diurnal rhythm and increases in ambient temperature. These resultsare promising for future use of biotelemetric measurements of deep body temperature as early indicators of heat stress.