The effects of temperature on broilers: A simulation model of the responses to temperature

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Abstract
1. The effects of post‐brooding temperature (15 to 27 °C), age (42 to 56 d) and dietary nutrient and concentration energy (11.7 to 13.3 MJ/kg for the finisher diet) on the cumulative food intake and body weight responses of broilers were combined in a predictive simulation model, using multiple regression techniques. 2. An economic model of these responses was developed in which the temperature and age at slaughter are optimised, given food and live body weight prices. 3. If a finisher diet of 13.3 MJ ME and 199 g protein/kg costing 150 £/tonne is fed, and provided the grower diet contains 13.5 MJ and 221 g protein/kg, the optimum temperature is 21 to 22 °C for male and female broilers slaughtered at 61 and 54 d respectively with a live body weight value of £0.50/kg.