Considering the approach of the summer season, read the following article:
All poultry suffer from heat stress when the temperature of the environment exceeds their tolerance, and because they do not have sweat glands, they reduce their body temperature by increasing the number of times they breathe. This increase in breathing, by excreting excess carbon dioxide, leads the body’s acid-base balance to alkalinity (alkalosis) and reduces ionized calcium, which is necessary for bone formation and egg shell. Heat stress has also been shown to reduce the amount of potassium and other minerals in the body. Also, snoring and breathing with an open mouth is one of the predisposing factors for respiratory diseases, because the air does not pass through the natural filter of the nasal passages. Another effect of heat stress is the decrease in food consumption, which causes a decrease in growth in broilers and a decrease in egg size and production in egg-laying birds. The damage caused by heat stress depends on the age, maximum temperature, its duration and the relative humidity of the air.
Ways to deal with heat stress
1-Increasing the air flow (using the maximum power of ventilators), cooling the air in the hall using misting and water spray on the wall, interior and exterior ceiling during the hot hours of the day, in hot and dry areas.
2- In heat stress, more water is consumed by poultry, so it is recommended to use cool water
The herd should be allowed to help reduce the body temperature.
3-It is recommended to feed the poultry in the cooler hours of the day (mornings and evenings). In addition, all activities that reduce the activity of poultry during the hot hours of the day are useful.
4- Modifying the diet and balancing its ingredients along with the use of foods that are easier to digest will reduce the effect of heat stress.
5- The use of pellet pellets reduces energy consumption while eating and the birds feel less heat.
6- It is better to provide more energy in the diet from fat sources because they generate less heat compared to other nutrients.
7- It is recommended to install additional fans, install fog machines, use suitable ventilation systems, whiten the outer roof of the poultry house, or use aluminum covers, etc.
8- Supplying cool and low-salt drinking water.
9- It has been shown that adding vitamins A, C and E has been effective in reducing the effects of heat stress.
10 – During heat stress, the acid-base balance of the body is disturbed. The use of electrolytes is very useful in improving this condition.
11-In most cases, increasing water consumption by birds increases their survival rate in heat stress. Some researchers believe that increasing the survival rate of poultry during heat stress caused by consuming more water by using salt supplements such as potassium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and ammonium chloride. It has also been shown that the addition of potassium chloride, in addition to compensating electrolytes, has reduced heat stress to a great extent. B- Mineral + complex is very useful in reducing the effects of heat stress due to the presence of potassium acetate, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium chloride.
This post is written by MohammadH555