THERMOREGULATION IN NAKED NECK CHICKENS SUBJECTED TO DIFFERENT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES

1. Heterozygous (Na/na) naked neck chickens and their normally feathered (na/na) sibs, were exposed to constant ambient temperatures (Ta) ranging between 15 and 35C and 12h: 12h diurnal high:low temperatures of 15C:35C. 2. No significant effect of genotype was obtained in weight gain and food intake. However, the naked neck birds tended to gain somewhat more weight at high Ta and consume more food at low Ta. 3. At 35C Na birds showed better regulation of body temperature (Tb) and demonstrated considerably higher radiation from the neck. 4. The greater food intake of the naked neck chickens at 15C was associated with significantly higher packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, heart and liver size. These appear to involve both higher heat production and haemodynamic changes to accommodate the higher oxygen demands of the naked neck chickens at low Ta. 5. The results indicate the ability of the naked neck chickens, on the one hand to thermoregulate at low Tas and, on the other their slightly better c...