In this study, the influence of temperature, relative humidity and air velocity in the development process of Avian Farm male chickens was analyzed in order to develop an environmental thermal index for productivity of broiler chickens - IAPfc. The chickens were first raised from 1 to 21 days of age in a conventional poultry-shed under natural conditions. Between 22nd and 42nd day (slaughter) the chickens were kept in climatic chambers. The treatments consisted of combination of levels of variables: temperature (t) 16, 20, 26, 32 and 36 ºC; relative humidity (u) 20, 34, 55, 76 and 90%, and air velocity (v) 0; 0.6; 1.5; 2.4 and 3.0 m s-1, according to the central rotatable composite design of the response surface methodology. The experimental diets attained the suggested requirements of each development phase. The diet composition was the same in all treatments. The analyzed parameters were: daily weight gain, feed intake, rectal temperature and respiratory rate. The statistical model obtained was IAPfc = 45.6026 - 2.31072 t - 0.368331 u + 9.70922 v + 0.0549243 t² + 0.0012183 u² + 0.66329 v² + 0.0128968 tu - 0.300928 tv - 0.0595245 uv, which is based on the animal performance and physiological parameters.
aviculture; poultry environment; thermal comfort
