Heat Stress in Poultry

Poultry industry is a major component of livestock sector. Heat stress subjects layer as well as broilers to underperform in terms of their efficiency and culminates in considerable economic losses. Neuroendocrine, physiological and behavioral alterations observed in poultry thriving in higher environmental temperatures. Depraved appetite, lower feed intake and nutrient inefficiency results in reduced body weight gains, feed conversion ratios, egg quality and diminished overall health and poultry welfare. Selective breeding, adequate dietary changes and managerial practices are promising mitigation strategies to be adopted and implemented to gain maximum benefits from poultry industry.