OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE LEVELS FOR RACING PIGEONS (COLUMBIA-LIVIA) HOUSEDUNDER TRANSPORT CONDITIONS - THE ROLE OF WATER AVAILABILITY AND AGE

Adverse transport conditions may increase subsequent bird losses durin g racing pigeon contests. The effect of water availability and age on the optimal temperature zone for racing pigeons housed under transport conditions was studied. For a period of 23 hours groups of ''First Ye ar'' and ''Adult'' pigeons were exposed to one of 10 ambient temperatu re levels ranging between 15 and 39 degrees C, either with or without access to water. Age did not affect the optimal temperature zone, wher eas water availability had a strong impact. In birds with access to wa ter, no upper critical temperature was found for heat production, body weight loss and dry matter content. Heat production increased by 0.16 Wkg(-1)degrees C-1 above the upper critical temperature of 32.7 degre es C. Above 32.1 degrees C, body weight loss and dry matter content in creased by respectively 1.3%degrees C-1 and 0.83%degrees C-1. Dehydrat ion as a result of water deprivation and heat exposure during pigeon t ransport may increase pigeon loss rates during racing contests.