Understanding the Effects of Heat Stress on Poultry Production in India

High atmospheric temperatures during summer affect health and overall productivity in the poultry population. The addition of Refit Animal Care’s quality and well-researched poultry feed supplements to the regular feed will help counter heat stress effects and ensure quality egg and meat production.

India is the world’s 3rd largest producer of poultry meat and eggs. We contribute through our annual production of about 5 million tons of chicken and more than 130 billion eggs. Currently, the Indian poultry market is valued at about INR 2021 billion. Thus, it will not be any exaggeration to say that Indian Poultry Market is playing a significant role in the country's economic development. The summer season in India normally lasts for about 3-4 months bringing temperatures soar as high as 50°C along with high humidity wherein heat stress effects are further magnified.

To understand the challenge, let us first understand some basics about heat stress. It is a physiological condition that arises when poultry are exposed to high temperatures beyond their comfort zone. Reduced feed intake, lower growth rates, lower egg production, decreased immune response, reduced productivity, well-being, and health of poultry are some of the heat stress effects. As an umbrella solution, better ventilation, cooling of the area where poultry is staying, and designing customized feeding schedules along with feed supplements can provide considerable relief to the poultry population.

Effect of Heat Stress on Egg Production

As heat stress affects physiological conditions in poultry, the effects are visibly prominent in egg production. Understanding the science behind this effect is important to understand the correlation between heat stress and reduced feed consumption. During high temperatures, when poultry experience heat stress, they experience a considerable reduction in appetite resulting in a significant reduction in feed consumption resulting in deficiencies in various minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients. Thus, reduced intake of feed supplements affects egg production and egg quality leading to thinner egg shells, reduced egg yolk weight, minimal nutrients such as vitamins and healthy fat content, and reduced protein content in egg whites.

Effect of Heat Stress on Meat Production (Broilers)

As discussed in egg production, due to heat stress the body of poultry prioritizes maintaining the core body temperature and thus diverts all the available energy for this function leading to reduced appetite and reduced food intake. When feed intake is reduced, the feed supplements that are normally added to regular poultry feed are also consumed less. When these poultry feed supplements are consumed in minimal quantity the health gets affected leading to reduced meat quality. Thus, when poultry is stressed, the meat produced is paler in colour and has a lesser quality texture which may not be the first choice for the consumer. Also, the meat’s nutritional profile may get altered due to altered poultry’s body metabolism resulting in affecting the overall meat quality.

Factors that contribute to increased heat stress in India

With variable geography and climatic conditions, India is experiencing a vast change in temperature across the country. High temperatures with high humidity are one of the worst conditions for poultry health, overall well-being, and productivity. In simpler words, humidity magnifies the problem due to heat stress creating significant risks to the health and productivity of poultry. Inadequate ventilation, poor hygiene conditions, and lack of cooling systems availability in poultry farms add to the heat stress effect.

Preventing heat stress and saving the poultry population

Prevention is better than cure! Following are some of the ways to prevent heat stress effect on poultry:

• Deploy ventilation systems in poultry farms: This can be achieved through better cross ventilation, deploying fans, or providing coolers (which can be effective for small poultry farms)
• Provide insulation and appropriate shade: This can help to reduce direct heat impact and exposures resulting in a reduction in the ambient temperatures.
• Adequate water supply: This will ensure body cooling and hydration in the poultry population.

R-Cool by Refit is an electrolyte liquid for poultry used as an oral rehydration for poultry and cattle.

• Planning eating schedules: Plan eating schedules for the poultry population so that they get fed during cooler temperatures and their regular feed intake can be maintained. This will help them to consume all required nutrients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and other important poultry feed supplements. Electro by Refit is an electrolyte in powdered form for poultry which acts as an antistress and rehydration supplement.

Mr Rahul Pahwa, CEO strongly believes that we cannot regulate atmospheric temperatures, but we can definitely work towards providing a better, more convenient, and well-designed living area for our poultry population. Along with the provision of quality poultry medicines in India, poultry feed supplements like Electro by Refit Animal Care can help you save your poultry population.

Refit Animal Care, led by CEO Rahul Pawha, stands out as a prominent Animal Feed Supplements Manufacturer. Dedicated to enhancing animal health, Refit Animal Care prioritizes quality in its products.