Reducing the impact of summer on birds:
- Half of the birds reared worldwide are estimated to suffer from the consequences of heat stress during the summer period.
- The first visible sign is an increase in the water:feed ratio.
3.Reduced feed consumption and decreased intestinal integrity and function result in the decreased energy intake, animal discomfort and the reduced performance.
- One of the methods consists of a natural diversion of the blood flow from the viscera to their external surface (wings, skin, etc.) in order to increase the heat exchange rate with the surrounding environment and therefore decrease body temperature.
- Immuno modulators,probiotics and electrolytes etc can be used to alleviate heat stress to improve productivity.
- As layer hens’ feed intake tends to reduce during hotter months, they should be fed with supplemented diets.
- Layers prefer high energy (in terms of fat calories) and low protein (2- 3 percent less than normal) diets with balanced amino acids .
- Substitute 20-25 percent of de-oiled rice bran with oiled rice bran. This will not only ensure that the feed is rich in fat calories, but it will also prevent feed becoming dusty so making it more palatable.
- Use only fresh oiled rice bran, and keep only 1 week to 10 days’ supply to avoid oxidation of stocks.
- Increase the calcium content of the diet from 4 percent to 5 percent.
- Replace 40-50 percent of any salt in the diet with sodium bicorabonate to help maintain egg shell quality.
- Feed birds as specific times. One-third of the feed should be given in the early hours of the day, 4-5 a.m., and the remainder later in the day. It is beneficial to dim the lights while feeding,
Dr V.Rajendra Prasad
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