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

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.

Early Feeding Strategy Mitigates Major Physiological Dynamics Altered by Heat Stress in Broilers

“…The average minimum and maximum recorded brooding temperature in the present study were 30 and 35 • C, respectively, which is considered the critical temperature zone (26-35 • C) for growing broilers [44,45]. Moreover, the current calculated THI values averaged from 29 to 33.8, which was classified as severe to very severe heat stress [28]. The premier factor for impaired performance of chickens is the drop in feed intake observed under heat stress.…”

Olive oil and its derivatives for promoting performance, health, and struggling thermal stress effects on broilers

“…This work investigates the antioxidant action of OL in the hepatic of broilers, an organ responsible for the homeostasis of the entire organism and simply exposed to oxidative stress ( Tufarelli et al, 2016 ). In the study of Dedousi et al (2023) , it was observed that the dietary inclusion of dried olive pulp ( DOP ) during hot climates significantly improved broiler growth performance. An encouraging impact on the well-being of chickens was observed in terms of feather cleanliness and panting behavior when chickens were fed a diet containing 6% OP ( Dedousi et al, 2023 ).…”

“…In the study of Dedousi et al (2023) , it was observed that the dietary inclusion of dried olive pulp ( DOP ) during hot climates significantly improved broiler growth performance. An encouraging impact on the well-being of chickens was observed in terms of feather cleanliness and panting behavior when chickens were fed a diet containing 6% OP ( Dedousi et al, 2023 ). Using OP as a feed ingredient shows promise as a feeding approach to mitigate the negative consequences of heat stress.…”