Research project To provide the Flemish poultry sector a heat action plan to maintain optimal health and the welfare of their poultry

General introduction

Thanks to the COOLCHICKS research project, Flemish poultry farms now have a scientifically based heat action plan at their disposal to better protect poultry against heat stress. The existing individual parameters that farms were already using—such as adjusting feed, water, and management practices, and applying climate control and housing techniques—have now been evaluated both individually and in combination for their effectiveness in reducing severe heat stress in the animals. The action plan can be customized for each specific farm. Based on the local situation, the tool calculates effective, economical, and practically feasible measures.
In recent years, however, the likelihood of recurring heat waves has been increasing, and poultry farmers must therefore step up their efforts to continue protecting the animals from heat stress. If they fail to do so, it is detrimental to animal welfare (health declines, mortality rates rise), and the farmer may suffer heavy losses.

Research approach

The researchers first identified which animal-specific parameters are best suited to quantify the effects of heat stress. Under standardized conditions, they evaluated the impact of incubation, management, feed, water, climate, and housing strategies, both individually and in combination. Based on this, they developed a prediction module that can be tailored to an individual poultry farm. They also identified which parameters and combinations are the strongest predictors of the severity of heat stress experienced. This knowledge formed the basis for a scientifically grounded online tool that indicates when a heat action plan should be initiated.

Relevance/Valorization

With this heat action plan, the Flemish poultry sector can show more resilience regarding the increasing risk of heat stress. Successfully mitigating heat stress reduces mortality in the barns and limits other heat-related health problems. In any case, this represents a significant return on investment, as production results improve or remain stable. This strengthens both the economic resilience of farms and public support for the poultry industry. The sector already had measures in place to address excessive heat stress related to feed, water, management, and housing techniques, but these are no longer always sufficient under extreme conditions. The project aimed to supplement existing knowledge and translate it into scientifically grounded, practical improvement strategies for Flemish poultry farmers.

Financing

VLAIO