Abstract
One metabolism trial(Experiment I) and another respiration trial(Experiment II) were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fiber supplementation(20% wheat bran) on the water balance, blood acid-base balance, body temperature, and metabolic rate of heat-stressed adult roosters. In Experiment I, twenty 20-wk-old SCWL roosters(BW 1.6 kg) were randomly alloted to 4 treatments with 5 birds per treatment and one per replicate. The 4 treatments were consisted of two temperature(21~22˚C vs. 34~35˚C) and two dietary fiber treatment(0% and 20% wheat bran), making Experiment I a 2x2 factorial. After 4 d of preliminary period, birds we subjected to 3-d collection period. Sixteen 20-wk-old SCWL roosters(BW 1.6 kg) were employed Experiment H, with two temperature(21~22˚C vs. 34~35˚C) and two wheat bran levels(0% and 20%). Brids were housed in individual metabolism cages under normal temperature(21~22˚C), at fed one of the experimental diet. After 4 d of preliminary period, a respiration trial with open-circuit gravimetric respiratory apparatus was carried out for each bird for 6 h, one by one, normal(20~21˚C) and hot(34~35˚C) temperatures. The ANOVA test and comparisons among treatment means were done at 5% probability level for both experiments. Results obtained from Experiment I and, II were summarized as follows, 1.The amounts of DM intake and excretion were significantly(P<.05) decreased by heat stress. The DM intake was not affected by the addition of 20% wheat bran, however, the amount of DM excretion was significantly increased by the high fiber diet. Thus, the DM metabolizability decreased significantly by the addition of 20% wheat bran. 2. The heat-stressed roosters increased the water intake and excreta moisture content significantly. Although not significant, the water intake tended to increase in roosters fed the 20% wheat bran diet. 3. The amounts of total water input and evaporative water loss were increased significantly by heat stress, and the addition of 20% wheat bran did not exert any influence on the total water input and evaporative water loss. However, roosters fed the 20% wheat bran diet increased the excreta water output significantly. 4. Neither the heat stress nor the dietary fiber did affect the blood pH, pCO2, and HCO$_3$- significantly. 5. The body temperature increased significantly by the heat stress. However, the high fiber deit failed to decrease the body temperature. 6. The heat-stressed roosters decreased the 02 consumption and C0$_2$ production, and increased the evaporative water loss significantly. However, the high fiber diet did not exert any infulence in this regard. It appears that the beneficial effect, if any, of high fibrous diet during heat stress episode may be due to the increased heat loss through the enhanced excreta water.
