SPECIAL STORY 50 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2022 A SMART NEWWAY TO DEAL WITH HEAT STRESS Due to climate change heat stress becomes an increasingly common phenomenon. The consequences for broilers are all too obvious with a significantly lower feed intake and a lower productive efficiency. Many people however, are unaware that the intestines suffer considerably from high ambient temperatures. Recently, FRAmelco researchers found a successful and innovative way to support the broilers’ gut under heat stress. Although birds perform well within a relatively wide range of temperatures, optimal performance for growing broilers is found to be between 18 and 22 °C. However, when the temperature in a broiler house rises above their comfort zone, broilers experience physiological stress known as heat stress. In this regard, the effect of relative humidity should not be underestimated. A high environmental temperature in combination with a high humidity is much more detrimental to broilers than a high temperature alone. Although heat stress is mainly a concern in warm and humid regions, due to climate change it may become a more widespread problem. NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HEAT STRESS As birds are covered with feathers and lack sweat glands, they are relatively vulnerable to heat stress. To prevent death from heat exhaustion when facing temperatures above their comfort zone, birds must make major thermo-regulatory adaptions. Their most important strategy to cool down is increasing their respiratory rate, they start to ‘pant’. To lose more heat they also spread their wings and open their plumage. In addition, heat-stressed birds redistribute blood to their skin to facilitate heat loss. These physiological adaptations will cost the birds a lot of energy which will be reflected in performance results. Heat stress will not only considerably reduce feed intake and consequently nutrient intake, it also has a negative effect on broilers comfort end suppresses productive efficiency. Moreover, during heat stress, cells in the body and intestines can be damaged due to oxidative stress, i.e. an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. Heat stress also appears to affect the immune response in broilers making them more vulnerable to infections. Since heat stress leads to substantial economic losses and threats to bird performance, health and welfare it is necessary to take measures. NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS What tools do broilers farmers have to minimize Ellen Bettonviel-Damen, MSc R&D Manager FRAmelco
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