Reducing mortality during heat stress

Dr. Connor Padgett, PhD, Poultry Technical Sales Manager

Heat stress is well known to cause negative effects on broiler performance and health. In the USA, heat stress causes between $128 million and $165 million in losses on average each year in the poultry industry (St Pierre, 2013). The detrimental effects of heat stress on broilers range from endocrine and immune disorders to decreased growth performance and increased mortality rate.

In order to effectively mitigate these effects, a multi-hurdle approach which includes proper management, program monitoring, and effective tools such Safmannan are necessary. Safmannan® is a premium, sustainable, nature-based solution that has been specifically selected and scientifically validated to improve natural defenses and intestinal mucosal integrity.

Trial 1:

 

450, 1-day-old male broilers on a corn-soybean diet, were randomly assigned to 3 different groups for this 42-day floor pend trial where heat stress conditions were 95 ± 3.6°F for the first week and then decrease of 5.4°F per week until it reached 78.8 ± 3.6°F. Safmannan was supplemented at 1lb/T.

safmannan broilers

Trial 2:

 

1,440 1-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned to 3 different groups of 480 birds (15 pens of 32 birds each). Group 1 (negative control, no heat stress and no supplementation), Group 2 (heat stress, no supplementation) and Group 3 (Heat stress + Safmannan at 1 lb/T. After 28 & 42 days mortality was evaluated – TAMU 2020

safmannan broilers

Safmannan® is a biological approach to address physiological changes induced by heat stress in broilers, which overall results in healthier birds even in the face of a challenge. These trials show Safmannan’s contribution towards mitigating the negative performance metrics of heat stress such as improving feed conversion rate, improving growth performance, and reducing mortality.

 

Safmannan® combines the power of a high Mannan-Oligosaccharides (MOS) content with the high content of β-Glucans.  The MOS binds with would be pathogens to prevent them from attaching to the intestinal lining and therefore preventing them from crossing the intestinal barrier to infect the chicken.

 

β-Glucans partner with the natural immune system to prevent infection of the bloodstream. Avoiding infection, avoids the additional adrenal corticosteroid secretion, which would inhibit thyroid hormones that assist chickens in controlling their body temperature.

 

Neither of these components is a complete solution to the heat stress problem on their own. However, a balanced and appropriate level of both Mannan-oligosaccharides and β-glucans provides a synergistic benefit by reducing the pathogen load in the intestinal tract and strengthening the bird’s natural immune system in order to provide the best opportunity to overcome heat stress.

 

As a result, the significant negative impact on the wellbeing of the chicken, as well as on production and profit may be alleviated.

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