ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the thermal gradients between the container environment and the interior of chick boxes and mean surface temperature of broiler chicks during transportation on different shipments. The research was conducted in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with the accompaniment of nine shipments with different density boxes, using an acclimatized truck with an average capacity of 380 boxes. It was selected 14 chick transportation boxes on each shipment and, subsequently, five chicks per box. It was measured the mean surface temperature of chicks (MST) in shipment (loading and unloading) by using an infrared thermometer. In the container microclimate assessment (center and inside chick boxes), it was recorded the air temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and specific enthalpy (h). For this, 17 data loggers were placed one per box (14) and three along the container. The experimental design was the completely randomized in a 9 × 2 factorial scheme. It was found that there are two microclimates in the chick loads, being the highest averages of T, RH and h observed inside boxes. The highest values of MST occurred during the unloading of chicks. It was also observed that the chicks have undergone thermal stress during transportation.

As vibrações e os choques mecânicos que ocorrem durante o transporte de pintos, podem atuar como agente estressor, afetando a vida das aves. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o transporte de pintos de um dia em diferentes estradas por meio dos níveis de vibração e choques ocorrentes nos caminhões. A pesquisa foi conduzida na empresa integradora avícola no estado de São Paulo, com o acompanhamento de 11 carregamentos de pintos. Um caminhão climatizado do tipo contêiner foi utilizado, com capacidade para 630 caixas de pintos totalizando em média 63.000 pintos. As avaliações dos níveis de vibração (m s-2) e choques nas estradas de terra e asfalto foram registradas por meio de três acelerômetros triaxiais. Para o nível de vibração e o número de choques o delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente aleatorizado em esquema fatorial 11 x 2. Por meio dos resultados pode-se concluir que os piores níveis de vibração (vertical, horizontal e aceleração geral) ocorreram na estrada de terra, com valores médios de 2,2, 3,3 e 25,8 m s-2, respectivamente. As maiores quantidades de choques ocorreram para todos os deslocamentos de cargas (vertical, lateral direita à esquerda e horizontal) foram verificadas na estrada de asfalto, valores médios de 453, 52 e 554 choques, respectivamente.

The vibration and mechanical shocks that occur during the transport of chicks may act as a stressor, affecting bird’s life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transport of one day-old chicks on different roads, through the vibration and shock occurring in trucks. The research was conducted in the poultry integrator company in the state of São Paulo, through the monitoring of 11 shipments of chicks. An air-conditioned truck (container type) was used, with a capacity of 630 boxes of chicks, totaling an average of 63,000 chicks. The vibration levels (m s-2) and shocks on the dirt and asphalt roads were recorded using three triaxial accelerometers. For the vibration level and the number of shocks, the experimental design was completely randomized in an 11 x 2 factorial. With the results it can be concluded that the worst vibration levels (vertical, horizontal and general acceleration) occurred on the dirt road, with mean values of 2.2, 3.3 and 25.8 m s-2, respectively. The largest amounts of shocks occurred for all shifts loads (vertical, horizontal left and right side) were observed on the asphalt road with average values of 453, 52 and 554 shocks, respectively.

As vibrações mecânicas, presentes no transporte de cargas vivas, podem comprometer a estabilidade fisiológica e o futuro desempenho dos animais de produção. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar, por meio de simulações, o efeito de dois níveis de aceleração (9,64 e 15,19 m s-2) sobre o estresse e o desempenho de pintos de corte de um dia. As vibrações foram simuladas utilizando-se um agitador mecânico e as intensidades de vibração estudadas por valores de aceleração geral. O período de simulação durou duas horas para cada tratamento e as aves tiveram seus parâmetros (diferença de peso; frequência respiratória e desempenho na primeira semana) comparados a grupos-controle (sem vibração). Realizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em que os resultados obtidos indicaram que esses níveis não influenciaram significativamente (p < 0,05) na diferença de peso nem no desempenho na primeira semana de vida; entretanto, os pintos submetidos à aceleração de 15,19 m s-2 obtiveram um aumento significativo (p < 0,05) na frequência respiratória (54,33 mov min-1) concluindo-se, assim, que as vibrações podem atuar como potencial estressor no transporte dessas aves.

Mechanical vibrations present in transporting live loads can impair physiologic stability and the future performance of livestock. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using simulations, the effect of two levels of vibration (9.64 and 15.19 m s-2) in stress responses and performance of day-old chicken. The vibrations were simulated by means of a shaking machine and studied by general acceleration values. The simulation period lasted two hours for each treatment and the birds had their parameters (difference in weight, respiratory rate, and performance in the first week) compared to control groups (without vibration). The experiment was conducted in a randomized design and the results showed that these levels did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) in weight and performance in the first week of life. However, chicks subjected to acceleration of 15.19 m s-2 achieved a significant increase (p < 0.05) in respiratory rate (54.33 mov min-1), thus concluding that the vibrations may act as a potential stressor during transport of these birds.