If larger poultry birds lack summer adaptation, egg production would likely decrease due to increased heat stress. To achieve smaller, heat-tolerant birds, crossbreeding with heat-adapted breeds is the primary method.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
What Happens with Larger, Non-Adapted Birds:
Reduced Egg Production:
Larger birds have a greater surface area, leading to more heat production. This can cause heat stress, which reduces egg production.
Increased Heat Stress:
Larger birds generate more body heat, making them more vulnerable to the effects of high temperatures.
Higher Feed Requirements:
Larger birds need more food to maintain their body mass, increasing feed costs.
Method for Obtaining Small, Heat-Tolerant Birds:
Crossbreeding:
The most common method is to crossbreed larger, non-adapted birds with smaller, heat-tolerant breeds. This introduces heat-adaptation genes into the offspring, resulting in birds that can tolerate higher temperatures.
Introducing Exotic Breeds:
Importing exotic poultry breeds known for their heat tolerance and small size can also be an effective strategy.
Selection:
Within a population, selecting for smaller size and heat-tolerance traits can also be employed, although this method takes longer.
Additional Factors to Consider:
Climate:
The severity of summer heat in the region where the birds are raised will influence the extent to which heat adaptation is crucial.
Housing:
Providing adequate shade, water, and ventilation can help mitigate the effects of heat stress in both large and small birds.
Diet:
Ensuring adequate nutrition is important for both heat-tolerance and egg production.