ISSUE FOCUS 26 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2024 “Heat stress is a growing problem for poultry production operations because animals lose their ability to compensate for suboptimal feeding or management. This is why it is important to provide every means of support to minimize losses and help animals overcome heat stress. Feed additives play an essential role when heat stress is expected to continue for several weeks.” Global poultry production is facing higher ambient temperature and extended periods with challenging climate conditions. At the same time, an efficient poultry production is necessary to fulfill the global demand for poultry products with the lowest possible impact on climate and environment. Along with optimizing animal housing and ventilation, adapting feed strategies can help maintain productivity in periods of high heat stress. Feeding management, feed composition and feed additives are three ways to adapt poultry feeding to climate change. 1. FEEDING MANAGEMENT • Shift time of feeding until after daily heat peak to reduce metabolic heat production during the hottest hours of the day • Smooth transitions in feeding during periods with chronic heat stress (longer periods with high temperature) • Avoid feed changes and make use of extra supplements via water during acute heat stress (rapid rise in temperature) 2. NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS AND DIET COMPOSITION Body heat production is a result of digestion and metabolism. A certain temperature difference between the animal and the environment is needed to emit excess heat. If this is not possible, feed intake will be downregulated. Lower crude protein is an efficient measure to reduce metabolic heat production. The ratio of energy to essential amino acids should not be changed to avoid limitations in protein synthesis. Digestible fat is the energy source with the lowest percentage of metabolic heat production. However, during stress, glucose becomes the predominantly required energy source. Therefore, the selection of the right combination of highly digestible energy sources is crucial. The birds cannot compensate for imbalances in the nutrient supply. This leads to a higher level of abdominal fat and poor carcass quality. PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES DURING HEAT STRESS • Increased heat emission from panting leads to respiratory alkalosis through increased CO2 exhalation. HEAT STRESS: 3 WAYS TO ADAPT POULTRY FEEDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE Dr. Bernhard Landwehr Senior Nutritionist Biochem
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