This work aims to evaluate the effect of environmental temperature and feather covering on the performance of two laying-type lines pullets from (10 to 13 weeks old). Four hundred and eighteen Hy-line pullets, 240 birds of each strain W-36 (light) and Brown (semi heavy) were housed in five temperature controlled rooms at 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36ºC. At each temperature three feather coverings were evaluated: 100% (no plucked), 50% (50% of the body plucked) and 0% (feathers removed). The statistical analysis was according to a 5 x 3 x 2 factorial scheme with 5 temperatures, 3 feather coverings and 2 strains. The data were analyzed by polynomial regression. The brown strain presented higher feed intake than the white strain at all temperatures. The decrease in feed intake with the temperature increase promoted reduction in body weight. The temperature comfort zone of W-36 was greater (18.33ºC to 32.00ºC) than the brown strain (23.75ºC to 29.50ºC).
Environment temperature; feather covering; performance; pullets lines
