Formulation changes to support heat-stressed broilers

Broiler chickens are remarkably efficient animals, but their performance comes at a cost: sensitivity to heat stress. As environmental temperatures rise above 28 degrees C, broilers begin to reduce feed intake, lose weight gain efficiency, and show elevated mortality rates. Once temperatures exceed 32 degrees C, even short-term exposure can trigger metabolic collapse in fast-growing flocks. So, how can nutrition help mitigate these risks?

Heat-stressed broilers pant to cool down, which causes respiratory alkalosis, a disruption in blood pH due to loss of carbon dioxide. At the same time, feed intake drops, especially for energy and protein, leading to compromised growth and immunity.