the influence of bedding material and collecting period

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Environment
3.1.1 Temperature
The average daily temperatures recorded during Phase 1 and 2 are presented in Figure
1. It is evident that lower average temperatures prevailed during Phase 2. During
Phase 1 an average minimum and maximum temperature of 18 and 28.5°C
respectively were recorded. On the other hand an average minimum and maximum
temperatures of 15 and 25°C respectively were observed during Phase 2. According to
Lohmann, Broiler management program (1990) and Ross Breeders, Ross broiler
management manual (1996) the optimum average room temperature should be 21-
22°C. Compared to this optimum temperature, the broilers in Phase 1 experienced
higher average temperatures for approximately the first 22 days of the growing period.
In contrast the average temperature in the building during Phase 2 was lower
compared to the optimum for the last 11 days of the growing period. These low
temperatures were, however, counteracted by the electric brooders in the cages.
Average Temperatures
30.0
Average Degrees Celcius
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
Average Phase 1
Average Phase 2
0.0
0
2
4
6
Days
Figure 1
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
Average temperatures during the growing period of broilers
29