Dietary Energy Requirements of Broilers Reared in Low and Moderate Environmental Temperatures

Four trials were conducted to determine the feasibility of replacing fossil fuel energy with dietary energy to meet the 23- to 48-day-old broiler chicken's energy requirements during abnormal cold exposure. Sexed broilers were fed 3250 or 3500 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg in a 21.1 C environment (a normal management situation), and 3250 or 3125 kal ME/kg in a 26.7 C environment. Body weights and feed utilizations increased when broilers were exposed to a 15.6 C environmental temperature and fed 3375 kcal ME/kg dietary energy as compared to feeding a 3250 kcal ME/kg dietary energy in the same environment. When broilers were reared in a 10.0 C environment, maximum body weights were not obtained by increasing the dietary energy from 3250 to 3500 kcal/kg dietary energy. Broiler males, fed 3250 kcal ME/kg and reared in either a 21.1 or a 26.7 C environment, were larger than males reared in 10.0 C environment. No significant differences were found in broiler female weights reared in a 10.0, 15.6, or 21.1 C environment and fed 3250 kcal ME/kg in each temperature regimen. Feed utilizations were the same broilers were reared in a 15.6 C environment and fed 3375 kcal ME/kg compared to broilers reared in a 21.1 C environment and fed 3250 kcal ME/kg. These results indicate that maximum performance of 23- to 48-day-old broilers may be achieved in a 15.6 C environment by feeding a high energy diet (3375 kcal/kg). Results also showed that dietary energy may replace fossil fuel energy that would normally be supplied in a 21.1 C environment.