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In order to maximise production results in the livestock industry, it is important to understand the challenges that animals face.
Solutions through the feed can support growth, health and overall performance. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of animal nutrition and its importance in agriculture.
Heat stress in poultry explained
Heat stress is a major form of environmental stress that occurs when ambient temperature and humidity exceed an animal’s capacity to dissipate body heat effectively. Poultry are particularly susceptible due to their high metabolic rate, feather coverage, and lack of sweat glands, which limit their ability to regulate internal temperature through evaporative cooling.
In heat-stressed birds, thermoregulatory mechanisms such as panting, reduced feed intake, and altered blood flow are activated in an attempt to maintain homeostasis. However, when heat accumulation surpasses the bird’s cooling capacity, these mechanisms become insufficient, leading to physiological dysfunction. The resulting imbalance, where more heat is produced or absorbed than can be lost, defines the failure of thermoregulation in poultry.
This failure poses serious implications for health, welfare, and productivity. Elevated body temperatures disrupt metabolic processes, induce oxidative stress, and impair immune responses, resulting in reduced growth performance, poor egg production, and higher mortality rates. Consequently, heat stress represents a significant economic burden to the poultry industry, emphasizing the importance of effective environmental control, nutritional management, and genetic selection for thermotolerance.