The work objective was to evaluate the effect of using a thermal insulating material installed as lining under the roof, on broiler performance, on environmental conditions of different broiler chickens stocking densities (10, 16 and 22 birds/m²) and on litter characteristics. The experiment was carried out during the summer, using 3328 chicks of Hubbard strain, distributed in a completely randomized design, in a factorial scheme 3x2 (density and sex), with four replicates for each environment. For the environment comparison a conjunct analysis was used. During the experimental period, registered temperature data were collected in several points and times, and also relative humidity and radiant thermal load were registered. Nitrogen content, dry matter and temperature of litter were determined. Daily average temperatures and temperature range were lower and the relative humidity was higher in the insulated environment. The broiler performance was better in the insulated environment, where the broilers had higher feed intake, higher weight gain, better feed: gain ratio, lower mortality and higher production per area. Rectal temperature of birds reared on the non insulated environment was higher than the birds reared on the insulated environment. As the rearing densities increased, the mortality increased, however the production per area was higher. The litter production was not affected by insulation, but it decreased the nitrogen percentage. Increasing stocking densities lead to an increase of litter production, but it did not affect the nitrogen percentage. The use of thermal insulation allowed increasing the broilers stocking density.
broilers; densities; environment; litter; thermal insulation
