Adequate housing optimises performance

摘要

Many obstacles need to be overcome when managing intensive poultry production, such as heat stress. This limits the realisation of the genetic potential of the birds. Chickens can adapt to high temperatures to some extent; however, when temperatures exceed 41 °C, drastic measures will need to be taken in order to avoid mortality due to heat stroke. Strains of laying hens that are superior in moderate climates have no problem adapting to open houses with high temperatures (figure 1). In correctly constructed houses it can be easy to obtain sufficient air movement to be able to cool the air down to the desired level. Open houses usually rely on natural ventilation where the air can easily flow in and out of the house. Here, high roofs help to removethe hot air from the birds.