1️⃣🅾️Ten (10) “Hot Season” facts every poultry farmer should watch out for.
The end of year period is a “cash in” period for most farmers.
Usually, a typical ‘harvest mind set’ prevents us from taking a closer look at subtle losses associated with productivity losses and minor errors.
The following are just a few of them:
- Decreased feed intake: This is usually to prevent excess heat generation. It’s a natural tendency and could be made worse by factors such as subtle underlying diseases or overcrowding.
- Decreased immunity and a higher susceptibility to infections. Research has shown that birds are prone to sepsis (systemic/blood infections) due to micro gut leakages
- Decreased egg production:
Relative humidity is usually neglected by any farmers.
It is instructive to note the relationship between water intake, pen house temperature, and relative humidity! - Decreased egg sizes. Usually, due to excessive body water losses and stress. We all know that eggs contain a lot of water!
- Increased egg breakage/cracks.
These could be:
▪︎ Gross cracks : due to heat stress, overcrowding, excess salt levels in feed, vitamin D, and calcium deficiency.
Calcium deficiency tendencies can easily be combated with blends of calcium gluconate/Pantothenate, phosphorus, vitamin A, and D and biotin ( DICALMAX and Calphosol are recommended complete blend in such cases).
▪︎ Pin hole cracks : common with mechanical damage or in old hens.
▪︎ Micro cracks : Usually due to collision with other eggs and hard surfaces.
- A lot of bird deaths are caused by gut bacterial dys-biosis. This means that proper gut health was not established earlier.
- Control of pen house moisture prevents bacterial overload.
- Optimum levels of moisture can easily be achieved by getting a thermohygrometer (a thermometer with a humidity monitor).
- Mortalities due to heat stress should be monitored by heat management strategies.
- Electrolyte replacement is key to maximum productivity during this period. It is recommended to use extra-packed multivitamins with a complete arsenal of vitamins A, B, C, Folic Acid, Biotin and Amino acids ( MAXI-BOOST and Vitamino Conc Oral have demonstrated good field results in Poultry).
Courtesy: Allwright Technical Support Desk.
Farm with confidence !
For further information, clarifications, information, or support, kindly contact: 08062329205 or via WhatsApp on 08131152286.
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