ISSUE FOCUS 34 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2022 ANIMAL SCIENCE TURNS TO ADVANCING RESILIENCE FOR HEAT TOLERANCE "Several research groups across the world are researching the challenge of enhancing the resilience of livestock to climatic variability and change. Understanding adaptive mechanisms right down to cellular responses are key to finding technological solutions to advance animal nutrition in its supportive role in optimizing animal performance as the climate is heating up in many countries." Scientists from leading agricultural universities in the UK, United States, India, Australia and the Netherlands all essentially agree, the adaptation to climate change requires technological advances for climate resilient animals in livestock production. On the other hand, continued selection for greater performance in the absence of consideration for heat tolerance will result in greater susceptibility to negative impacts from rising temperatures for productivity and animal welfare. This is due to the strong relationship between production level and metabolic heat production. ANIMAL RESILIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES Researchers at the University of Armidale claim that for the concept of resilience the animal’s reactions with its environment are central. They describe resilience as the capacity of the animal to return rapidly to its pre-challenge situation. In other words, it is a comparative measure of differences between animals in the impact of a challenge they encounter. Researchers from Wageningen share a similar definition for resilience in farm animals. Thus, resilience relies on the animal’s response or better adaptability to naturally occurring stressors in its environment. Several disciplines in animal production, including genetics, veterinary sciences and nutrition are currently striving to find ways of positively influencing resilience in farm animals. Better understanding the adaptive processes and finding ways to best measure improvements is integral to enhancing resilience in farm animals. THE ROLE OF ADAPTABILITY Animals have adaptive mechanisms to cope with rising temperatures, which involve morphological, behavioural and genetic capacity for change. Behavioural changes to rising ambient temperatures are seen in animals, include using shade whenever they have access to it and a reduction in feed intake. Dr. Gwendolyn Jones Product Manager, Gut Agility Activators – Anco FIT ADM - Pancosma
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