Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171415
Title: SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE OF ELEVATED CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS ON BROILER GROWTH RESPONSES

Author
item Olanrewaju, Hammed
item Dozier Iii, William
item Branton, Scott
item Miles, Dana
item LOTT, BERRY - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV.
item FAIRCHILD, B. - UNIV. OF GEORGIA
item PESCATORE, A. - UNIV. OF KENTUCKY

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2004
Publication Date: 1/15/2005
Citation: Olanrewaju, H.A., Dozier III, W.A., Branton, S.L., Miles, D.M., Lott, B.D., Fairchild, B., Pescatore, A. 2005. Short-term exposure of elevated carbon dioxide concentrations on broiler growth responses. Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting. Abstract 213. p. 50.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Air quality is essential to getting chicks off to a good start. Improvements in poultry house design and construction have reduced heat loss. To conserve fuel usage, growers ventilate less during winter growouts. As a result, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration often exceeds 3,000 ppm during brooding with modern housing. Three trials were conducted to evaluate growth responses of broiler chicks subjected to progressive concentrations of CO2 gas. In each trial, 480 d old male Ross x Cobb chicks were randomly distributed to eight environmentally-controlled chambers (60 chicks/chamber; 0.08/m2). Four treatments were employed. The CO2 was metered into the chambers to maintain concentrations of 3,000, 6,000, and 9,000 ppm from 1 to 14 d and no addition of CO2 served as the control. After 14 d, CO2 addition was ceased and experimentation continued throughout a 42 d production period. Each treatment was represented by six replicate chambers (two chambers/trial) with three trials being replicated over time. Progressive additions of CO2 reduced (P'0.04) growth rate, but feed conversion and the incidence of mortality were unaffected from 1 to 14 d of age. Final BW gain and feed conversion were similar among the treatments, but cumulative mortality increased (P=0.025) linearly. From 29 to 42 d, the incidence of mortality increased (P=0.049) with gradient increments of CO2. Increasing CO2 from 3,000 to 9,000 ppm led to a 228% increase (5.3 vs 12.1%) in mortality from 29 to 42 d with it being largely due to an occurrence of ascities. These results indicate that elevated CO2 concentrations from 1 to 14 d did not alter cumulative growth performance, but increased the incidence of late-mortality.