Effects of temperature treatments on the heat production of starving chickens.

1. Heat production was measured for about 24 h at six temperatures from 2 to 35 degrees C on individually starved broilers that had been subjected to four treatments; these were acclimated or unacclimated to these temperatures, or to these temperatures for 12 h and to 22 degrees C for 12 h (alternated) during each 24-h period. 2. Response curves relating heart production and environmental temperature for the four different treatments differed significantly. Only the unacclimated birds subjected to the alternated temperatures increased heat production at 35 degrees/22 degrees C. Major effects of acclimation were observed mainly in the cold. 3. The relationship between daily endogenous nitrogen (N) excretion and heart production (mg N/kJ) was constant at the different temperatures, but acclimation and alternating temperature increased N excretion. 4. Evaporative heat loss was reduced by alternating temperature at the high temperatures, and by maintaining temperature constant in the cold.