ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2024 35 As the year 2023 cemented itself as the hottest on record, the increasing reality of global climate change casts a long shadow over various industries, including poultry production. Poultry are particularly vulnerable to temperature fluctuations, experiencing significant health and productivity decline when exposed to thermal stress. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, understanding the impact of thermal stress on poultry and developing effective management strategies are critical not only for bird welfare but also for the sustainability and profitability of the entire poultry production chain. UNDERSTANDING TEMPERATURE’S IMPACT ON POULTRY Birds, like mammals, are warm-blooded and can maintain their own body temperature. Unlike mammals, birds do not have an absolute body temperature and can vary greatly. A bird’s core body temperature is normally around 41 °C (40 – 42 °C), but can get as high as 45 °C. A bird’s body functions most efficiently in the thermoneutral zone. This means that the bird maintains its body temperature without using additional energy for thermoregulation. For most poultry, this is between 18 and 24 °C. However, this can vary depending on age, body weight and feather cover. Temperatures outside the thermoneutral zone can cause thermal stress. However, it is not only the ambient temperature that needs to be considered. There is an interplay between temperature and humidity that affects an organism’s ability to keep cool. This is the enthalpy “Heat stressed poultry need to dissipate excess body heat and will exhibit certain behaviors to indicate that they are overheated. Poultry will exhibit increased panting as the most common sign. Birds experiencing heat stress often have increased water consumption and reduced feed intake, resulting in reduced productivity.” Poultry Under Pressure: UNDERSTANDING & COMBATING THERMAL STRESS Etienne Effenberger Product Manager for Poultry Biochem Dr. Melinda Culver Science Writer Biochem
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