Temperature and humidity effects on nutrition and mortality of layer chickens in controlled environments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3329/aajbb.v10i3.82906Keywords:
poultry management, climate stress, production performance, animal welfare, poultry industryAbstract
Temperature and humidity play a crucial role in shaping the feed and water intake as well as mortality rates of layer chickens. This study examined the influence of these environmental factors on chicken survival in commercial poultry farms in Bangladesh, using data collected from two commercial layer farms over multiple years (2017–2020) and across different chicken strains. Variations in temperature and humidity were monitored in sheds L2, L3, and L4 at PHL, and L1 to L7 at DEL. The data were analyzed to calculate mean values and correlations among temperature, humidity, feed and water intake, and mortality rates. The results showed that elevated internal and external temperatures, combined with high humidity levels in sheds, were associated with increased water and feed intake as well as higher mortality rates among layer birds. A statistically significant difference was observed in shed L1 of DEL in 2020 (P = 0.0006), where significant correlations among the variables were also identified. Specifically, at PHL, a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.61) between internal temperature and mortality suggested that higher internal temperatures contributed to bird deaths due to heat stress. In contrast, at DEL, internal temperature exhibited only a weak positive correlation (r = 0.29) with mortality, implying that while heat stress played a role, it may not have been the dominant factor. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining optimal environmental conditions in controlled housing systems to safeguard the health, welfare, and productivity of layer chickens. The study also provides practical guidance for farmers and policymakers to implement improved environmental management strategies aimed at enhancing poultry production efficiency and minimizing economic losses in Bangladesh.
Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2025, 10(3), 55-63
Downloads
17
2
References
Amaz SA and B Mishra, 2024. Embryonic thermal manipulation: a potential strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens for sustainable poultry production. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol., 15: 75.
Apalowo OO, DA Ekunseitan and YO Fasina, 2024. Impact of heat stress on broiler chicken production. Poultry, 3: 107-128.
Boichard M and T Zerjal, 2015. Robustness to chronic heat stress in laying hens: a meta analysis. Poult. Sci., 94: 586-600.
Chowdhury MA, MK Hasan and SLU Islam, 2022. Climate change adaptation in Bangladesh: current practices, challenges and the way forward. J. Clim. Chang. Heal., 6: 100108.
Goo D, JH Kim, GH Park, J BD Reyes and DY Kil, 2019. Effect of heat stress and stocking density on growth performance, breast meat quality, and intestinal barrier function in broiler chickens. Animals, 9: 107.
Juiputta J, V Chankitisakul and W Boonkum, 2023. Appropriate genetic approaches for heat tolerance and maintaining good productivity in tropical poultry production: a review. Vet. Sci., 10: 591.
Kamruzzaman M, S Islam and Rana MJ, 2021. Financial and factor demand analysis of broiler production in Bangladesh. Heliyon, 7: e07152.
Kang S, DH Kim, S Lee, T Lee, KW Lee, HH Chang, B Moon, T Ayasan and YH Choi, 2020. An acute, rather than progressive, increase in temperature-humidity index has severe effects on mortality in laying hens. Front. Vet. Sci., 7: 568093.
Khan MHR, A Rahman, C Luo, S Kumar, GMA Islam and MA Hossain, 2019. Detection of changes and trends in climatic variables in Bangladesh during 1988–2017. Heliyon, 5: e01268.
Kim HR, P Seong, KH Seol, JE Park, H Kim, W Park, JH Cho and SD Lee, 2025. Effects of heat stress on growth performance, physiological responses, and carcass traits in broilers. J. Therm. Biol., 127: 103994.
Kim HS and JK Lee, 2019. Variability in water consumption in poultry farming: Influence of heat tolerance and environmental factors. J. Ani. Sci. Tech., 62: 867-876.
Kumari KNR and ND Nath, 2018. Ameliorative measures to counter heat stress in poultry. Worlds. Poult. Sci. J., 74: 117-130.
Liu B, Z Zhang and Y Zhang, 2015. Influence of environmental factors on poultry performance. Ani. Sci. J., 86: 333-339.
Mangan M and M Siwek, 2023. Strategies to combat heat stress in poultry production—A review. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr., 108: 576-595.
Masud AA, EK Rousham, MA Islam, MU Alam, M Rahman, AA Mamun, S Sarker, M Asaduzzaman and L Unicomb, 2020. Drivers of antibiotic use in poultry production in Bangladesh: Dependencies and dynamics of a patron-client relationship. Front. Vet. Sci., 7: 78.
Melesse A, S Maak, R Schmidt and GV Lengerken, 2011. Effect of long-term heat stress on some performance traits and plasma enzyme activities in Naked-neck chickens and their F1 crosses with commercial layer breeds. Livest. Sci., 141: 227-231.
Mignon-Grasteau S, U Moreri, A Narcy, X Rousseau, TB Rodenburg, M Tixier-Boichard and T Zerjal, 2015. Robustness to chronic heat stress in laying hens: a meta-analysis. Poult. Sci., 94: 586-600.
Nath TD, MS Rahman, A Biswas and RA Juice, 2024. Livestock farming and women empowerment in rural Bangladesh: a mixed method approach. CABI Agric. Biosci., 5: 86.
Nawab A, F Ibtisham, G Li, B Kieser, J Wu, W Liu and L An, 2018. Heat stress in poultry production: Mitigation strategies to overcome the future challenges facing the global poultry industry. J. Therm. Biol., 78: 131-139.
Oke OE, OA Akosile, AI Oni, IO Opowoye, CA Ishola, JO Adebiyi, AJ Odeyemi, B Adjei-Mensah, VA Uyanga and MO Abioja, 2024. Oxidative stress in poultry production. Poult. Sci., 103: 104003.
Oluwagbenga EM and GS Fraley, 2023. Heat stress and poultry production: a comprehensive review. Poult. Sci., 102: 103141.
Saeed M, G Abbas, M Alagawany, AA Kamboh, MEA El-Hack, AF Khafaga and S Chao, 2019. Heat stress management in poultry farms: A comprehensive overview. J. Therm. Biol., 84: 414-425.
Salvia KJ and J Valderama, 2021. Layer Poultry farming and egg production profitability model: basis of layer harvesting. Int. J. Arts, Sci. Edu., 2: 168-173.
Shahriar SMS, N Haque, T Hasan, MTA Sufal, MT Hassan, M Hasan and SMA Salam, 2025. Heavy metal pollution in poultry feeds and broiler chickens in Bangladesh. Toxicol. Rep., 14: 101932.
Tesakul S, W Mitsuwan, Y Morita and W Kitpipit, 2025. Effects of heat stress on egg performance in laying hens under hot and humid conditions. Vet. World, 18: 851-858.
Vandana GD, V Sejian, AM Lees, P Pragna, MV Silpa and SK Maloney, 2021. Heat stress and poultry production: impact and amelioration. Int. J. Biometeorol., 65: 163-179.
Wang Y, W Zheng, B Li and X Li, 2019. A new ventilation system to reduce temperature fluctuations in laying hen housing in continental climate. Biosyst. Eng., 181: 52-62.
Wasti S, N Sah and B Mishra, 2020. Impact of heat stress on poultry health and performances, and potential mitigation strategies. Animals, 10: 1266.
Yan L, M Hu, L Gu, M Lei, Z Chen, H Zhu and R Chen, 2022. Effect of heat stress on egg production, steroid hormone synthesis, and related gene expression in chicken preovulatory follicular granulosa cells. Animals, 12: 1467.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Monalisa Parvin, Md Taimur Islam, M Nazmul Hoque, Sheikh Arafatur Rahman, Md Golam Haider
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
