Use of thermography for the evaluation of the surface temperature of Japanese Quail submitted at different temperatures

Abstract

Thermography has been gaining more space in analyzes of the superficial thermal profile of birds since it is a non-invasive way of evaluating thermal comfort. This study aims to evaluate the influence of different air temperatures (tair) from 20 °C to 32 °C on the maximum, average and minimum surface temperature (STmax, STaverage and STmin) of Japanese laying quails. The experiment was performed in four wind tunnels, where the continuous air temperature within each tunnel, 20 °C, 22 °C, 24 °C, 26 °C, 28 °C, 30 °C and 32 °C represented treatment, with 20 °C being the control treatment. Two experiments, of 21 days each, were carried out. For each experiment, we used four replicates and eight quails in each repetition, in a completely randomized design. Thermographic images of each repetition were made weekly through the Fluke Ti55 camera and analyzed using SmartView® software. The STmax, STaverage and STmin of each repetition were obtained by delimiting the area of the quails within the cages. Significant differences were observed between ST as the room temperature increased. The ST of quails behaved similarly from 28 °C on. Both head and feet had higher temperatures. It was possible to verify that air temperatures above 22 °C promoted an increase in the maximum, average and minimum surface temperatures. The highest surface temperatures are found in the head and foot region.