POSTNATAL ONTOGENY OF TEMPERATURE REGULATION IN THE MUSCOVY DUCK (CAIRINA-MOSCHATA)

The influence of different keeping temperature regimes in the early postnatal period on the later functions of the thermoregulatory system in muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) is examined in this paper. The animals were kept under different temperature conditions during the first 10 days of life (choice between 20-40-degrees-C; deep temperature - 40-degrees-C; high temperature - 20-degrees-C; choice between 25 and 35-degrees-C; biological optimal temperature). Colonic temperature, heat production, evaporative heat loss and total conductance were measured between the 11. and 13. day of life. The results show that the ontogeny of the thermoregulatory system in muscovy ducks is hardly influenced by the temperature regimes during the first 10 days of life. In situations of thermal loading the animals used at first such thermoregulatory control elements which they had mainly activated in earlier periods of their individual development.