Effects of phytobiotics in broiler breeders under heat stress on reproductive performance, egg quality and offspring health and welfare

Heat stress is a common problem worldwide in poultry production. It can lead to a decrease in health, welfare and reproductive performance. In poultry species, this is particularly the case for fast-growing broiler chickens, but probably also for broiler breeders. Heat stress might not only affect the broiler breeder itself, but will also indirectly influence the offspring health, welfare and performance.

In order to solve this problem, we are committed to finding a more natural and lower-cost solution. Mitigating heat stress effects in broiler breeders will result in healthier broiler breeders and chickens, with higher level of health and welfare. Mitigating effects of heat stress in poultry can be based on improving environmental conditions and other management factors, but also heat stress mitigating feed additives are a feasible approach. Because phytobiotics are considered as residue-free, healthy and safe, they could be a useful factor in mitigating heat stress in broiler breeders and their offspring.