Is feed intake the most neglected poultry KPI during summer?

When heat reduces consumption, the diet may remain perfectly formulated while birds receive too little energy, protein, minerals and vitamins.

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Ioannis Mavromichalis
August 24, 2026
Industrial poultry farm with hundreds of white chickens with pink markings in a climate-controlled facility.
chayakorn76 | BigStock.com

On more than one summer farm visit, I have seen feeders remain full while everyone discussed how to reformulate the diet. The nutritionist wanted to increase nutrient density, the farm manager asked about electrolytes, and the supplier proposed another heat-stress additive. These are all reasonable suggestions. But, when I asked for reliable daily feed intake by house, the discussion usually became less certain.

The birds were not necessarily under-formulated. They were under-consuming.

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