What is heat stress?
Just the way humans are susceptible to heat stroke during hot climatic conditions, livestock also face extreme exhaustion due to heat, known as heat stress. High environmental temperatures are one of the most common causes of heat stress.
Heat stress in poultry occurs when birds have difficulty striking a balance between body heat production and heat loss. Heat stress can occur at all ages among the birds. However, older birds are at a high risk of heat stress as larger birds tend to become more insulated with their feathers.
The environmental temperature and humidity inside the barn or the hen house plays an important role in heat stress. Thus, the temperature and humidity must constantly be measured and kept in check.
The comfortable temperature range for poultry is 15-20ºC (59-68ºF) with birds experiencing mild heat stress at 30ºC (86ºF). At 37ºC (98ºF) and above, chickens experience severe heat stress and their egg laying rate declines. If people are exposed to temperatures above 32ºC (90ºF) at extremely high humidity or above 45ºC (113ºF) at very low humidity for a lengthy period of time, it can be fatal.
EFFECTS OF HEAT STRESS ON POULTRY
Heat stress overall leads to reduced growth in poultry which means both lower yields and reproductive performance:
- Heat stress had significantly reduced feed intake, lower body weight, and higher feed conversion ratio
- Temperature primarily affects production of poultry meat and eggs through increased or decreased feed intake. Heat stress has long been recognized as one of the prominent environmental elements influencing meat quality
- The high temperatures further cause a decrease in the egg shells thickness and weight in laying hens.
- Climatic stress in laying hens leads to a reduction both egg production and quality
- Heat stress can affect the reproductive function of poultry in different ways.
- Heat stress compromises absorption of nutrients, integrity of gut wall and the immune system in birds
- High ambient temperatures during transportation, which has been identified as one of the leading causes of chicks’ mortality, leads to exhaustion and death.
SYMPTOMS OF HEAT STRESS
Clinical signs of heat stress in layers and broilers are:
- Increased water consumption
- Reduced feed consumption
- Spreading of wings
- Lethargy / less activity
- Panting (breathing with open mouth)
The heat stress in layers will cause a reduction in nutrient and energy availability for egg production. Clinical signs of heat stress in layers may also include:
- Increased number of thin eggshells
- Reduced egg production
- Reduced egg size
Chronic heat stress may lead to gut wall damage, leaky gut syndrome. This syndrome causes:
- Integrity of intestinal cells decreases : chickens are more susceptible to Salmonella and other diseases
- Secondary infection if sanitary conditions are poor
- Reduction of digestibility of nutrients
- Increased plasma endotoxin levels
Tips and tricks for Reducing/Preventing Heat stress
Heat stress can be reduced or prevented in a variety of ways. Here are some tips you can follow to reduce heat stress in your flock:
1) Provide Ventilation/Managing Space
Make sure that your birds have plenty of space. By putting fewer birds in each hen house, you can help reduce heat stress.
Make sure that you increase the ventilation to remove excess heat. If you have a naturally – ventilated barn, ensure that you have supplemental fans in the barn, as there is an increased risk of heat stress if the air flow is calm.
- Tunnel ventilation with an air speed of 2m/sec is recommended.
- When humidity is high (> 70%) incoming air should be cooled, for example by using air conditioning.
- When humidity is high, water evaporation (for example sprinklers or pad cooling) is not recommended.
2) Feed Right
Feed is an important factor in prevention of heat stress. Use good quality feed:
- Limited use of protein and optimized use of amino acids.
- More fat instead of carbs (carbohydrates), this will reduce the production of heat.
- Increase dietary energy density by feeding pelletized feed (concentrates).
- Minimised non-essential amino acids and fibre.
Adjusting feeding times can support birds in a hot climate. Feed 1/3 of the daily feed between 6:00 and 10:00 o’clock. Take the food away during the hottest period of the day (10 to 16). Feed 2/3 of the daily feed between 16:00 and 21:00 o’clock.
3) Drinking water
- Bird tends to increase their water intake by 2 – 4 times more than usual during heat stress.
- Ensure that there is plenty and cool drinking water (around 20°C is ideal)
- Protect drinking water from direct sunlight to keep it cool: use a roof over the tank and paint the tanks white to get cool drinking water.
- Check quality of drinking water to prevent infection.
4) Use Additives/Electrolytes that prevent heat stress
You can add electrolytes to the water for up to three days. This will help balance the electrolytes in birds and also enable them to drink more water.
Additives To make the effects of heat stress of less impact on the animals. The following additives are useful:
RETRESS Forte and YORSLYTE WSP reduce/prevent heat stress in poultry. RETRESS Forte and YORSLYTE WSP supplement contains various substances that counteract the effects of heat stress and is also soluble in water.
RITRESS Forte is an Effective Electrolyte Solution with the best nutritional supplements like Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Selenium, Calcium and Vitamin A, D E.
BENEFITS:
- An excellent stress reliever.
- Optimizes the nutrient bioavailability and improving its absorption leading to effective stress management, enhance fertility, production, and build immunity.
- Vitamins to regulate body functions while increasing the immune resistance against diseases.
- Ensures optimum milk, meat and Egg production and overall enhance performance of livestock.
- Improves the laying performance in poultry, reduced due to intense heat, illness, cold or transportation etc.
For more info: Click here.
BENEFITS:
- Provides electrolyte needs of the birds and animals
- Helps regulate the body temperature of birds and animals.
- Relieves heat stress and restores the body temperature of the birds and the animals to normal.
- Essential in stress condition.
Disclaimer
Please note that our product is packed with closure safety. Do not use the medicine if seal is Broken. Our products are meant for export use only. One must follow their local veterinarian’s instructions and dosage prescribed. Shake well before use. To get the best utility out of our products one must Store in Cool and Dry Place (suggested in between 15 Degree C to 30 Degree C), Protect from light and do not freeze.
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