Abstract
For a physiological characterization of an apparent breed difference observed in survival time without feed and/or water, feed intake, water intake, body temperature, skin temperature and the plasma levels of glucose and protein on ad libitum feeding under different environmental temperatures were compared in White Leghorn males of two strains, dwarf (dwarf-WL) and non-dwarf (normal-WL), Fayoumi and Silky males at 32 weeks of age.
Birds were kept at the room temperature of 16, 23 and 30°C.
Normal-WL that survived the shortest periods of time without feed and/or water than other breeds in our previous work3) consumed the most feed and water in four breeds utilized in this investigation at 30°C. On the other hand, dwarf-WL that survived the longest periods of time without feed and/or water consumed the least feed and water in four breeds at 30°C.
It was observed in normal-WL, dwarf-WL and Fayoumi that feed consumption was decreased with the rise of environmental temperature, and water consumtion was increased. However, in Silky breed, feed consumption was increased with the rise of environmental temperature.
Dwarf-WL consumed the least amount of water per unit of body weight among these breeds in each environmental temperature.
Plasma total protein, plasma glucose levels and skin temperature changed with the rise of environmental temperature. Changing pattern in Silky breed were differed from other breeds.
