What is stress? Stress is defined as pressure, load, and impulse in a situation where a lot of energy is required. All living things have a limited amount of stored energy and resources. These resources help them adapt to difficult situations (which can be challenges, threats, etc.). For example, in chickens, extreme cold or hot weather, vaccinations, pecking, high density and insufficient housing space, and other unpleasant causes, make these resources more demanding.
As long as these challenges are few and tolerable, the organism tries to use its reserves and adapt itself to the challenging conditions and finally pass through it with minimal damage. When the number or intensity of these challenges increases, physical and chemical reactions occur in the organism’s body that can cause suppression of the immune system, low weight gain, high FCR and reduced egg production, and in a word, Bad effect on the general health and general performance of the animal.
Factors that cause a stress reaction and affect health are called stressors, and the organism’s response to the stressor and its effort to adapt to the situation is what is called stress.
Types of stress
The types of stress that affect poultry can be divided into two categories, avoidable and unavoidable. Stresses that are part of the standard breeding process, such as vaccinations, chinning, handling for weighing, handling, fast growth rates, high production, etc., and on the other hand, stresses that are caused by improper care and breeding conditions. including large population, sudden changes, improper ventilation, exposing them to improper environmental conditions and such things. Correct management means preventing avoidable stress and at the same time reducing unavoidable stress.
Effects of stress
Corticosterone hormone is secreted from the adrenal glands when the bird’s body is in a challenging situation for the flight or fight response. Whenever a bird is stressed, the release of glucose into the bloodstream increases, which uses up the liver’s glycogen stores. The state of breathing also changes. The release of this hormone also causes a change in the intestinal pH, which leads to the disruption of the microflora balance of the digestive system. A stressed bird tends to sit and drink water instead of moving and eating food. Following all these changes, conditions are created for certain types of bacteria and fungi to activate and cause problems. Gastrointestinal diseases may occur, which results in the poultry becoming emaciated and sometimes sick
What is the solution?
One of our products in the Mayan collection is herbal supplements for livestock and poultry, which are completely herbal and one of their properties is to be anti-stress. By using these supplements, you can get incredible results in reducing the stress of your animals. And you will see weight gain in them.
