Heat Stress. How can I support my birds?
One of the main effects of heat stress is the reduction of feed consumption, which results in poorer growth and reduced egg production and egg quality. In addition to managerial interventions to control temperatures inside the sheds, there are a number of products that can be used to optimise productivity at this time of the year. While commercially available products vary in quality and composition, our range is priced competitively and has been carefully formulated by poultry vets and poultry nutritionists to help during periods of heat stress. Demand for these products is high at this time of the year and therefore we advise that orders are placed as soon as possible to secure stock.
We recommend:
- Chick gel – To hydrate the chicks on arrival to the farm. This gel also has a probiotic incorporated which gives the birds the best possible start.
- Electrovits and Hydrovits – recommended use 48 hours prior to catching to help to maintain weight.
- Immunoplus – recommended use 48 hours before and 48 hours after vaccination to help with energy recovery following the immune response to vaccines.
- Enteroguard – To improve intestinal health and reduce the risk of coccidiosis in times of sub-optimal feed consumption.
- Hydralyte– Basic hydration for long periods of treatment during the summer months.
Remember to sanitise your water lines as bacteria grow faster at higher temperatures. Through our sister company, AgriCure Farm Supplies, we now stock and sell a wide range of products to clean the water lines, from hydrogen peroxide products to organic acids. Please contact Maurice at [email protected].
If you would like to test the quality of your water, we can supply water sampling kits as well as pre-paid envelopes to return the samples to the lab. If you need a test kit please email [email protected] or ring 01347 820366. If you would like to discuss the options for your farm, please contact our friendly team of poultry vets who will be delighted to help.
Bulk orders on our nutraceutical range
At PHS, we have our own brand of nutraceutical products which can now be purchased on pallets for your convenience, this would be offered with FOC delivery (subject to minimum orders). Our supplements are our own specifically blended products with ratios chosen by specialised vets for use in specific circumstances. The benefits of supplements are for use around stresses such as vaccination, during thinning and transfers, heat stress and to enhance the performance of the birds. Supplements can be used as a preventative measure to reduce antibiotic usage wherever possible which in turn helps to increase overall performance and profitability.
Summer OFFER—Agricure Probio (last stock)
Agricure PROBIO is one of our best-selling products as an alternative to antibiotics. It differs from other probiotics on the market as our probiotic contains 2 strains of bacteria (enterococcus faecium) and essential oils amongst other ingredients. We have seen the best results when it is administered at one day old or following antibiotic treatment so that the likelihood of further antibiotic treatment is reduced. This product is also recommended as an intervention on farms where salmonella has been diagnosed in the past as it helps to prevent re-infection by colonising the gut with “good bacteria”, making it more difficult for salmonella to colonise the gut.
Agricure PROBIO is used at strategic times in broilers and turkeys to reduce the risk of enteritis as part of a gut health programme. Please discuss with your vet how this can be best applied to your particular farm.
Special offer price £75 + VAT per 1 kg, available while stocks last.
Please note that this product is short-dated and cannot be returned. Stocks at this price are limited. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, please order by calling the Sheriff Hutton practice on 01347 820366
Release of Gamebirds
This year the licensing requirements for the release of gamebirds in Special Protection Areas and the 500m buffer zone will require the inspection of pheasants by a private vet 24 hours prior to release and the sampling of partridges (PCR swabs) by a private vet 48 hours prior to release.
We are still waiting for clarification from DEFRA on some licensing points surrounding the 48-hour timeframe to get the PCR results from the government labs prior to the release of the partridges. For the latest information, please contact your local PHS branch and your game bird vet will let you know the latest updates as we are part of the Industry Focus Group and actively participate in the consultations with DEFRA.
Congratulations to Emma King
We are delighted to announce that our Lead Vet of the North East, Emma King, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the National Egg & Poultry Awards 2023 for the Young Farm Vet of the Year award!
We are all rooting for you, Emma!!
Advertise with us for free
Do you have a vacancy? Or want to sell equipment? Are you struggling to recruit? In Spring 2022, we launched the new PHS ‘Classifieds’ section – an online space for advertising jobs, equipment, services, and more for the poultry and gamebird industry in the UK. Please contact your local PHS branch for more information or to send us your advert. This service is available for free to PHS clients and for a small fee to non-clients.
Social Media
Social media is a great way for us to keep you up to date with what’s going on at PHS. We also like to share the occasional funny post, so if you’re a scroller then look us up! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter (@Poultryvets), and LinkedIn.
Our new Promo code!