The poultry industry continues to expand in the warm regions of the world at a much faster rate than in temperate zones. Not only can it be quickly and easily developed in these hot climates but poultry meat and eggs can serve as important sources of animal protein in those areas of the world that have protein insufficiency. Fully revised and updated, this new edition describes how the detrimental effects of heat stress can be reduced through the manipulation of housing, breeding, nutrition and management, and includes new contributions on controlled-environment housing, waterfowl, and breeding fast-growing broilers.

The feathers and skin in birds are the first line of defence, but are also important in helping the bird to maintain a stable internal temperature, facilitate integral mobility and ensure successful mating in some species. For poultry, the physical conditions of feathers and skin are important barometers to assess the impact of management and ensure health and welfare. Based on the proceedings of a recent symposium, this book documents the significant developments that have been made in our understanding of the importance of the integument to poultry species. The book: . Traces the development of the integument over time and discusses our current understanding of its embryonic development. . Includes a broad range of studies covering genetics, welfare, health, nutrition, and management. . Promotes research opportunities in an under-studied field. Providing a comprehensive yet concise summary of the available research, this book is an invaluable resource for both the poultry industry and for researchers in animal science and welfare at undergraduate and graduate levels.