Construções e ambiência para aves de corte: uma revisão narrativa dos fatores físicos e estruturais que influenciam o desempenho zootécnico.

Abstract

The performance and welfare of broiler chickens are strongly influenced by environmental and structural factors in poultry housing. Key variables such as temperature, relative humidity, ventilation, and radiant heat affect the birds’ ability to maintain thermal balance. In hot climates, evaporative heat loss is essential, but its efficiency decreases with high humidity, increasing the risk of heat stress. Thermal comfort indexes such as THI and BGHI help identify optimal productivity zones. Proper ventilation—natural or mechanical—improves heat dissipation and air quality, while insulated roofing and shading mitigate solar radiation effects. For poultry house design, recommendations include an east–west orientation, sloped concrete floors, side walls with mesh for ventilation, and adequate spacing between buildings. Integrating environmental control with efficient structural planning reduces heat stress, enhances feed conversion, and ensures higher productivity and animal welfare.