CMancaster Finning, Saturday, May 28, 1994 >ull P' Iti 'o Penn State Poultry j Pointers HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR HEAT, STRESS ON MY BIRDS? Dr. Michael Hulet Associate Professor Poultry Science Allhough it is hard to believe, the heat of summer will be on us before we know it. The problems of winter and cold weather ventila tion will soon be forgotten and replaced by the present problems of dealing with the first heat wave of the year. Usually the change to summer heat, if it is rapid can cause more problems than the same rise in temperature late in summer when heat is more of a chronic manage ment problem and birds have adapted to it. Significant mortality losses for poultry as a result of heat stress usually occurs with the older and heavier birds, such as turkeys from 10 to 20 weeks of age and broilers grown past six weeks of age. At this age the loss is especially devastating since all the invest ment in time, feed, and labor have been made without a possibility of financial return. Heal stress in turkeys is not thought to be as deadly because of the birds’ ability to convcct heat from the feather less head region with the aid of air movement. However, in situations of high heal, high humidity and stress, high mortality can occur in turkeys. f 1 Brillion has designed a 3 pt. S-tine field cultivator with a larger, aggressively angled 12" diameter rolling basket, a 4-bar frame that allows for either 4" or 6' tooth spacing and an adjustable coil tine leveler bar. Qauge wheels are optional ADAMSTOWN Adamstown Equip. Inc. ALLENTOWN Lehigh Ag Equipment ALT .'OONA & CRESSON Hines Equipment Co. ICHTELSVILLE Miller Equip. Co. fIWICK C.H. Rinehimer & Sons CARLISLE Gutshall’s, Inc. DOVER George N. Grose, Inc. EASTON George V. Seiple ELIZABETHTOWN Meselck Farm Equipment Co. INTERCOURSE C.B. Hoober & Son Traditional management strate gics to compensate for acute heal stress and maintain growth and performance have been threefold. First, to fast the animals during the heal of the day and allow the birds to return to feed in the evening when the temperature will be cool er. This has been shown to be effective in broilers as well as turk eys. In a study by Mamputu and others from the University of Georgia, the authors reported a significant decrease (3 to 4 per cent) in the mortality of turkeys when a daylight fasting method was employed when compared with full fed 18-week-old tom turkeys. Results similar to these have also been reported for fasted vs. full-fed broilers. A second method has been’the use of fans and misting systems to reduce the sensible heat in the house. It has been calculated that an effective misting-ventilation system can reduce the inside house temperature by about eight degrees Fahrenheit (F) when compared to the outside ambient temperature. Two different methods of fans and misting have been used. One system uses hanging circulating fans to increase the interior circu lation of air through the house in concert with strategically placed misting nozzles to help cool the birds. The newer method uses a tunnel ventilation system in which air is drawn through the house at about 400 to 450 feet per minute by the use of several large fans posi tioned in the end wall. Misting nozzles are placed per- 3 PT. BASKET CONTACT YOUR TRILLION DEALER FOR DETAILS V ,/.F The “heart" of any field cultivator is the shank pivot point. A “bulked up shank bracket made of cast ductile iron instead of the usual formed steel bracket, incorporates a hardened steel bushing AND a zerk grease fitting to lubricate the pviot point to reduce wear. The result is thousands of acres of extended life of the shanks GREENCASTLE Meyers Implement LANCASTER Landis Brothers, Inc. LEBANON Umberger’s of Fontana LOYSVILLE Gutshall’s, Inc. LYNNPORT Kermit K. Kistler, Inc. MAXATAWNY N.H Flicker & Sons, Inc. NEEDMORE Clugston Farm Equipment NEW HOLLAND A.B.C. Groff, Inc. OAKLAND MILLS Peoples Sales & Service OLEY Pikeville Equipment, Inc. QUARRYVILLE Grumelll Farm Service iodicaily (50 feet) in Bands across the house to increase the cooling of the birds. This method is usually tied into a thermostat controller that will change a normally ciptain ventilated house to a tunnel venti lated house when the housd temp erature exceeds 85 degrees F. Timmons and Hillman from Cornell University found that increasing air speed was an effec tive means for cooling birds when outside temperature is below 95 degrees F. When temperatures are higher than 95 degrees F, misting or evaporative pads are needed to help cool the bird. The third traditional method used to help birds cope with hot weather is changing the diet to reduce the heat of digestion. Nutri tionists must also take into account the reduction in feed intake with changes in formulation during hot weather so that growth can be maintained. ‘Emu For The Future’ ETTERS (York Co.) The Eastern Regional Emu Chapter (EREC) of the American Emu As sociation (AEA) is presenting “Emu for the Future” at their an nual conference, scheduled June 3-4 at the Sheraton Crossroads, Mahwah, N.j. EREC is comprised of Emu farmers/ranchers from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, and Vermont. The conference will feature speakers currently on the board of AEA, as well as a veterinarian from the New York area. Ralph Benton, Elkhart, Texas, has been a successful Emu breeder for many years. He is one of the foremost Emu ranchers in the United States and is dedicated to promoting the Emu industry. Scott Morgan, president of the Arizona Emu Chapter, will be dis cussing contracts and will address understanding the Emu business HFC FIELD CULTIVATORS 16V4 Ft. to 31V Other management procedures to help reduce the mortality during high ambient temperatures are to reduce temperature of drinking water by draining hot lines and fill ing more frequently with cool water, increase essential amino acids in the diet, increase insula tion of building, tighten and dress fan belts, clean fan blades, remove dust and debris from exhaust screens, and make certain that the alarm systems and generators are operating properly to prevent disasters. Another innovative method that has been suggested by Arjona and associates at Virginia Tech for broilers (not turkeys) is to expose chicks at five days of age to high temperatures (95‘to 100 degrees F) for a short period of time (24 hours). The temperature should be hot enough to stress the birds but not so hot as to cause any mortali ty. Birds treated in this manner At Conference and establishing clear communi cations from the perspectives of purchaser, seller, and caretaker. Dr. Bruce Wittels, DVM, is the owner/operator of the Mid-Mon roe Veterinary Hospital and the Tristan Veterinary Clinic, both in New York, as well as being in volved in the ratite (ostrich, rhea, and Emu) business. A lunchtime roundtable work shop has also been scheduled. An experienced Emu breeder will be at each table to answer specific questions and concerns, or to just give general information. This is the first time this type of work shop has been scheduled and we feel it will be Very informative. TAM AQUA Charles Snyder, Inc. WATSONTOWN Deerfield Ag ft Turf Center, Inc. WEST GROVE S.G. Lewis ft Son, Inc. Maryland FREDERICK Cereaville Ford New Holland New Jersey BRIDGETON Leslie Fogg ELMER Pole Tavern Equip. Sales Corp COLUMBUS Reed Brothers Equipment EAIRIELO Caldwell Tractor ft Equipment ROHRER BRAND SOYBEANS • True line variety which matures similar to Williams 82 but has more yield punch. • Very good emerger that gets off to a fast start • Good standability • Tolerance to phytophthora root rot were compared to birds that were traditionally brooded. At 42 days of age the temperature was sud denly increased from around 70 degrees to between 95 and 100 degrees F for eight hours per day for two days. The birds that had been previously heat stressed at five days of age were better able to withstand the heat stress at 42 days of age. The birds traditionally brooded had mortality levels of 12.3 percent for the two days of heat stress, while the birds that were stressed at five days of age had only 0.8 percent mortality. These researchers reported no differences in body weight and feed conversion between the two groups. While experimental, this method seems to have some prom ise in helping to alleviate some of the problems associated with the acute heat stress that occurs each spring. Also scheduled are short pre sentations by experienced local Emu breeders, a question and an swer panel, an Emu cooking de monstration and tasting, as well as vendor displays. There will be lilve Emu on display, Emu related products for sale, Emu recipes, door prizes, and a silent auction. For more information regarding hotel accommodations, please contact the hotel. Preregistration for EREC members is $BO per per son and $125 at the door. For more information regarding the seminar, contact Mark Annun ziato. Seminar Coordinator, (201) 613-1142 or (914) 986-7553. ROHRER BRAND 3750 SOYBEANS ROHRER BRAND 3850 SOYBEANS variety in late Group 111 ;y class igh Yield • Excellent Standability • Performs well on all types as well as in all 1 widths lerant to phytophthora root rot • Good emerger and has a bushy plant type that grows to a good height
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