BONUS SPRING SUMMER 2025

Poultry farmers should be conscious and vigilant about maintaining environmental temperatures according to the requirements of the birds, especially during the summer. It has been proven that layer birds show a significant decrease in feed intake, egg production, egg weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell weight, Haugh unit, and eggshell strength if temperatures are not sufficiently regulated. www.deheus.co.za | 031 785 1575 | infosa@deheus.com Fertility In parent stock flocks, studies have shown a significant decrease in fertility during heat stress as well as decreased hatchability of incubated eggs. Management options tomitigate heat stress Good management practices include attention to all aspects of layer production to help manage and reduce heat stress experienced by the birds. This includes physical handling and vaccination, ventilation management, feeding times, lighting schedules, stocking densities, water management, and nutritional supplementation. For a technical breakdown of the above, please do not hesitate to contact a De Heus technical advisor. De Heus Cool Care app The Cool Care smartphone application is an easy to use tool that can help identify possible heat stress scenarios on a farm. It provides predictions based on location and approximate weather conditions, as well as tailored heat stress indexes based on different livestock species. There are helpful tips and advice available as well. For any technical and nutritional assistance, please contact your De Heus technical advisor – https:// www. deheus.co.za/meet-our-team/. Figures 2 & 3: Screenshots of the De Heus Cool Care app. sometimes diarrhoea. This will lead to an increased number of dirty eggs coming through the system. Spring/Summer 2025 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 50