ISSUE FOCUS 78 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2025 Supporting poultry during heat stress requires a multi-faceted strategy addressing both environmental and nutritional factors. When high temperatures and humidity exceed birds’ tolerance, their behaviour, feed intake, and calcium metabolism are disrupted. This leads to issues like poor shell quality and reduced egg production. Practical management and precise diet formulation are key—but how can these be optimised to limit productivity losses? SUPPORTING POULTRY DURING HEAT STRESS: Risks and Technical Solutions Heat stress can represent a pressing concern during the summer season. With temperatures frequently above 30 degrees surpassing the 25 degrees comfort range for a poultry, the physiological challenges become more pronounced. WHAT IS HEAT STRESS IN POULTRY? Heat stress in poultry refers to a condition where they are exposed to high temperatures and humidity levels that exceed their physiological tolerance. It occurs when the bird is unable to dissipate the heat leading to various changes in the behavior of the poultry. The impact on productivity is high, this is why preventing it, is mandatory. To evaluate the level of heat stress, the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) is commonly used. It is a numerical value to measure the combined effect of temperature and humidity on the thermal comfort and stress levels of poultry. A higher THI value indicates a greater risk of heat stress (Habeeb, 2018). For example, a temperature of 28°C with a Humidity Level of 95 % has the same THI level as a temperature of 38 degrees with a 20% humidity. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HEAT STRESS IN POULTRY? The bird resort to panting in order to dissipate By Phosphea Photo: Freepik
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==