Natural Remedies

watering. The protection of hepatocytes is provided by sorbitol and choline particularly when using fat (vegetable oils) to increase the feed energy intake.

3 N o n s t e r o i d a l a n t i - inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -

N S A I D s i n t e r f e r e w i t h prostaglandin synthesis acts mainly on thermoregulatory centres. a) Flunixin at a dose of 5 mg/liter of water for three days. b) Acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin), long recommended in the treatment of heat stroke, alone or combined with vitamin C at a dose of 300 mg/liter of water for 1-3 days. 4 Antibiotics - Erythromycin and oxytetracycline stimulate growth p e r f o r m a n c e a n d r e d u c e m o r t a l i t y. B a c i t r a c i n z i n c stimulates the immune response and increases feed consumption at a dose of 55 g/t of feed (continuous feeding during hot season, and at 110 g/t during very hot periods).

5 Other substances

a) Carnitine -The consumption of carnitine can increase water consumption and eliminate excess free fatty acids. b) Vitamins -Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and E can be recommended. c) Phenothiazine - is an organic compound related to the thiazine class of heterocyclic compounds incorporated in broiler feed at the dose of 2.5 to 5 g/kg of body weight.

6 Managemental practices

a) Building - Selection of the site i.e., mainly poultry buildings must be like open shed with a possible protection against main winds, especially against hot winds. The direction of the building will be determined by the physical characteristics of the field chosen for the location, and the direction of dominant winds.Especiallyin warm countries, orientation of buildings should be in east-west direction. Further, it is important to consider the ease of access and proximity to market facility in order to avoid the transportation of poultry over long distances during hot weather conditions.

For biosecurity reasons, it is best to avoid major roads. If several buildings are located in the same farm, these buildings must not be downwind from one another. I. Fans are placed vertically in the building and produce a horizontal airflow. This type of installation has many disadvantages.

ii. Tubes with holes provide a rapid air stream which attenuates quickly, thus having no effect on the stratification of air and on the litter.

iii. Circulating fans are placed horizontally and provide a vertical air flow which spreads on the floor with the advantages of eliminating heavy toxic gases (NH3, CO2, CO,

SH2) accumulated at the level of the litter as it dries (thus decreasing the fermentation and production of gas and heat) and eliminating air stratification. b) B ird density - during warm period's bird density must be reduced at least by 20%. This density reduction lowers heat production by birds and the litter, and ensures aeasy access toventilated areas, drinkers and feeders.

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Ÿ Egg-laying breeders: 4.5 to 5/m2

Pullets and layers: 4.5 to 5.5/m2

Broilers: 8 to 11/m2 c) Drinking water - Water represents 70% of body weight of chickens. So, water significant element for thermoregulation is e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e b i r d ' s metabolism. Access to clean water should be easy, germ-free, and at a temperature lower than the core body temperature. There should be a sufficient number of drinkers:

Cage: 1 nipple for 1-3 hens and 10 cm linear drinker space per hen.

On the ground: 14 m linear drinker per 1,000 hens and 12 round drinkers per 1,000 hens.

d) Feed Formulation - To offset the reduction in feed intake in broilers, a high energy ration of 3,200 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg should be available with a higher fat content; since digesting fat produces less m e t a b o l i c h e a t t h a n carbohydrates. To maintain production performance without increasing protein levels in layers, the diet must be additionally supplemented with amino acids, especially lysine and methionine.

e) Feed distribution schedule – there is secreation of HClin the proventriculusduring process of digestion which lead to increased intestinal motility and it also leads to thermogenesis. Fasting for the period of 3-8 hours before a period of high heat is also preferable so as to maintain feed intake production performance and viability. It is also necessary to reduce lighting program and feed distribution can be scheduled very early in the morning to maintain feed intake during heat hours. r