Essential oils

Combat heat stress

Birds need to keep their body temperature constant to ensure good health. They are able to display adaptive mechanisms that may not be sufficient if the temperature and relative humidity are excessive. This is when heat stress occurs.

Birds need to keep their body temperature constant to ensure good health. They are able to display adaptive mechanisms that may not be sufficient if the temperature and relative humidity are excessive. This is when heat stress occurs.

The effects of heat stress in birds are severe, especially during the first days of their lives, when their thermoregulatory capacity is low and, in high production stages, when the animals need to focus all their physiological resources on their performance.

The birds’ mechanisms to reduce heat stress are diverse: Increase in breathing and heart rate, reduction of voluntary consumption. As a result, production yields decline notably.

Another important consequence of heat stress in laying hens is the decrease in the quality of the eggshell.

Panting of the birds to adjust their body temperature causes an increase in the pH of the blood. This respiratory alkalosis impairs the mobilization of minerals, resulting into a decrease of calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. Therefore, less minerals are available for shell formation. If this situation continues over time, problems can also appear in the development of the medullary bone. 

Miarom Classic L is a liquid product based on essential oils for application in farm water or by spraying, which allows combating the ravages of high temperatures, and providing additional welfare to animals.

Miarom Classic L comprises a special combination of various essential oils. Its long-lasting benefits are obtained from a synergistic, standardised combination of essential oils from thyme, anise, peppermint and eucalyptus, among others.

These essential oils have an expectorant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Its application during periods of heat stress improves the comfort of animals on the farm and consequently the production rates.

It is worth highlighting the mode of action of menthol: This compound stimulates specific thermosensitive receptors, producing a similar response to the application of cold. It is the same refreshing sensation that we get when savouring mint candies.

An independent organisation carried out a study with Miarom Classic L on a broiler farm subjected to heat stress. The animals faced forced ambient temperatures of 35 º C during two periods (from day 13 to 18 of life and from 26 to 31). The results showed that the application of the product via drinking water significantly improved feed consumption, the average daily gain and the conversion rate during the fattening period.

Test results with Miarom Classic L at slaughter (35 days):

Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, expectorant and antioxidant properties make Miarom Classic L a tool in antibiotic reduction programs, since it has both respiratory and intestinal mode of action.

In summary, Miarom Classic L allows a fast and effective response to heat stress problems in poultry, improves animal welfare and enhances the performance during this challenging period.  As a result of this, production rates are improved.

MIAVIT offers a wide range of products for direct administration in farm water:

• MiaPhos: Liquid mineral supplement for bone mineralisation and eggshell quality
• Livervital: The most complete hepatic protector on the market
• AmiVit GOLD: Start booster for chicks with a strong focus on gut health

The MIAVIT technical team is at your disposal for any questions!