PARÂMETROS COMPORTAMENTAIS DE FRANGOS DE CORTE ALIMENTADOS COM DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE VITAMINA E AOS 42 DIAS DE IDADE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioral parameters of broilers fed different levels of vitamin E at 42 days of age. A total of 240 broiler chicks, up to the seventh day of life, were used according to the lineage recommendation and fed with only 50% of the vitamin E requirement. At eight days of age, the birds were weighed, homogenized and the treatments (50, 100, 150 and 200% of vitamin E requirements) and six replicates. The evaluated variables were the behavioral parameters of the birds, and the surface temperatures at 42 days of age. It was observed that vitamin E levels did not influence the behavioral parameters at 42 days of age. However, the maximum, minimum and thermal amplitude temperatures were influenced by the morning and afternoon periods. Vitamin E levels in the diets did not influence the behavioral patterns of broilers at 42 days of age.