Computer-Aided Heat Acclimation in Broiler Cockerels ,

A battery-powered BASIC CMOS microcomputer was used to control the environment in a solar-assisted poultry house containing heat-acclimated and control broiler chickens. The computer features complete isolation from commercial power sources, power consumption in the 100-mA range, integrated circuit time clock, a 16-channel analog to digital converter to measure temperature, and 16 channels of output for control of poultry house equipment Three-week-old broiler cockerels were subjected to daily 4-h heating episodes (35 C) for 3 wk and then were exposed to heat stress (38 C) for 4 h. Based upon mortality and performance parameters, it was concluded that computer assisted-acclimation would be a method to improve heat resistance in broiler chickens.