Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-hgkh8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T19:25:43.478Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Heat storage, not sensible heat loss, increases in high temperature, high humidity conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

Shane K. Maloney
Affiliation:
School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
Get access

Abstract

Because evaporative cooling is the principal avenue of heat loss at high ambient temperatures, high humidity superimposed on high temperature presents poultry with an additional thermal challenge. Whenever body temperature exceeds ambient temperature, sensible heat loss (radiation, conduction, and convection) to the environment will occur. The generally accepted model of heat balance, which states that when ambient temperature increases homeotherms will endeavour to maximize sensible heat loss before resorting to evaporative heat loss, was recently challenged. However, several factors that can influence heat balance were not considered in the reasoning pursued in that challenge. In this paper the theory behind heat balance models is discussed and the data that were used to challenge the model are reanalysed. The question of whether poultry are capable of physiologically increasing sensible heat loss under hot, humid conditions remains unanswered and presents an area worthy of future study.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arad, Z., Midtgård, U. and Bernstein, M.II. (1989) Thermoregulation in turkey vultures: vascular anatomy, arteriovenous heat exchange, and behaviour. Condor 91: 505514CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Balnave, D. (1998) Increased utilization of sensible heat loss mechanisms in high temperature, high humidity conditions. World's Poultry Science Journal 54: 6972CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calder, W.A. and King, J.R. (1974) Thermal and caloric relations of birds. In: Avian Biology Vol. 4 (Farner, D.S. and King, J.R., Eds), Academic Press, New York, pp. 259413Google Scholar
Dawson, W.R. (1982) Evaporative losses of water by birds. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 71A: 495509Google Scholar
Kahl, M.P. (1963) Thermoregulation in the wood stork, with special reference to the role of the legs. Physiological Zoology 36: 141151CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marder, J. and Arieli, Y. (1988) Heat balance of acclimated pigeons (Columba livia) exposed to temperatures up to 60°C. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 91A: 165170Google Scholar
Richards, S.A. (1976) Evaporative water loss in domestic fowls and its partition in relation to ambient temperature. Journal of Agricultural Science 87: 527532Google Scholar
Romijn, C. and Lokhorst, W. (1961) Climate and poultry. Heat regulation in the fowl. Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde 86: 153172Google Scholar
Romijn, C. and Lokhorst, W. (1966) Heat regulation and energy metabolism in the domestic fowl. In: Physiology of the Domestic Fowl (Horton-Smith, C. and Amoroso, E.C., Eds), Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, pp. 211217Google Scholar
Teeter, R.G., Smith, M.O., Owens, EN., Arp, S.C., Sangiah, S. and Brezile, J.E. (1985) Chronic heat stress and respiratory alkalosis: occurrence and treatment in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 64: 10601064Google Scholar
Yahav, S., Goldfield, S., Plavnik, I. and Hurwitz, S. (1995) Physiological responses of chickens and turkeys to relative humidity during exposure to high ambient temperature. Journal of Thermal Biology 20: 245253Google Scholar
Yahav, S., Plavnik, I., Rusal, M. and Hurwitz, S. (1998) Response of turkeys to relative humidity at high ambient temperature. British Poulty Science 39: 340345CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed