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0 Poultry farmers in Dorma East, located in the Bono Region, are facing a major challenge as rising temperatures have caused severe losses in recent months. With many poultry farms experiencing high mortality rates among their birds, farmers are finding themselves scrambling to protect their investments.
Christiana Kyeremah, a poultry farmer with 20 years of experience, manages 2,000 layers. She shared her recent struggle with heat stress: “The early signs of heat stress include slight gasping. If preventive actions are not taken within three days, the birds will cease eating and drinking,” she said. Without swift action, the consequences can be devastating.
Within just two weeks in February 2025, she lost 60 birds, and over three weeks, she lost 168 crates of eggs, totaling a financial loss of GHS 8,400. When combined with the loss of her birds, the total financial damage amounted to GHS 13,200.
“The heat stress has been devastating for my business,” Christiana said. “In just three weeks, I’ve lost more than I can afford, and it’s been a struggle to keep the business running.”
Thompson Kofi, who oversees both 4,000 layers and broilers, explained that the early signs of heat stress can be subtle: “This season, I encountered heat stress. I noticed it when I entered the poultry house around 3 p.m. and saw the birds panting, opening their beaks and making unusual sounds. I also observed that 9 birds were lying on the litter, struggling to walk.” This situation has significantly affected his business.
For many farmers, the extreme heat has led to a significant decrease in egg production, with eggs becoming soft and fragile. “Heat stress impacts our finances significantly. It results in a high mortality rate, causes the eggs to become very soft and break easily, and leads to reduced egg production,” Christiana explained. With weakened egg shells and lower production, farmers are struggling to meet market standards.
The financial impact of the heat stress is also severe. “About 75% of the farmers’ investment is lost due to the heat stress,” Christiana added. “For instance, if they divided their investment into four parts, three-quarters would be lost to the effects of the heat.”
Frank Amponsah, a farmer who lost about 30,000 cedis from his 500 broilers due to heat stress, lamented about the situation.
Despite these challenges, there is a silver lining. Farmers have found hope and support from expected sources. The veterinary team in the area, led by Robert, has been praised by the local farmers for their dedication and commitment. “The veterinary team, led by Robert, is doing an excellent job, as they visit regularly without needing to be invited,” one farmer remarked. The team’s proactive support has been a vital part of helping farmers combat the effects of heat stress.
Farmers use ice block cooling system in birds’ drinking water to combat heat stress
Thanks to an intervention by the District Department of Agriculture, farmers have adopted innovative cooling systems that are helping to reduce these losses and protect their investments.
Farmers like Christiana and Thompson, who manage thousands of poultry, are using new cooling techniques to provide relief to their birds. These systems are proving effective in reducing the deadly heat stress that has claimed so many poultry in previous years.
A recent visit to Christiana’s farm revealed just how committed she is to protecting her poultry. It was about 1 p.m. on Thursday, and she was busy supplying cold water to the birds. Christiana explained that she does this several times a day to ensure her poultry stays in good condition. “I do this throughout the day to make sure they are comfortable and safe from the heat,” she said.
Christiana also added, “With the high temperatures now, we have always added ice blocks to the birds’ drinking water. This helps cool their systems, offering relief from the heat, just like humans.”
Thompson shared similar experiences. He noted that when drinking water becomes warm, it exacerbates heat stress. To prevent this, he uses shaded tanks to keep the water cool, allowing the birds to drink without further strain.
“When the drinking water becomes warm, it can contribute to heat stress, so I decide not to use iron sheets for roofing the water tank. Instead, I planted trees around the tank to provide shade. I use that cooler water to supply to the birds.” This simple but effective solution helps keep the water cool, which in turn helps protect the birds from the harmful effects of heat.
“When we contacted the Agriculture Department, they responded positively. They taught us to add ice blocks to the water before giving it to the birds and advised us to gradually pump water into the tank to prevent it from heating up,” Frank said. By adding ice to the water, the birds are able to cool their bodies and find relief from the high temperatures.
In addition to cooling systems, many farmers are also planting trees around their poultry houses to create natural shade and windbreaks. The trees help lower temperatures in and around the poultry farms, providing additional cooling. The combination of these cooling techniques and tree planting is already showing positive results, as farmers report a decrease in mortality rates and better overall health among their poultry.
The new methods are not only helping farmers safeguard their poultry but also contributing to a more sustainable farming environment.
Nana Akosua, another local farmer, shared how these techniques have made a difference on her farm: “The heat is everywhere. Thanks to the training we received as poultry farmers, we learned to add ice blocks to the water to help cool the birds’ systems. After 12 p.m., we start using the iced water to lower their body temperature. This approach has helped me reduce losses on my farm.”
With the support of the Department of Agriculture, farmers like Christiana, Thompson, Frank, Nana Akosua and many others are empowered with the knowledge and resources to combat the challenges of changing weather patterns. The combination of innovative technology and sustainable practices is proving to be the key to resilience in a rapidly changing world.
A district that once struggled to survive the heat has found a way to thrive. The poultry farmers’ hopes are growing—not just in the trees, but in the hearts of their colleagues who know that with every shade each tree provides and every cooling water from the mixture of ice blocks, they are taking another step toward a sustainable future.
Heat stress and its effects on poultry health
Poultry animals thrive best in temperatures between 18 and 22°C, known as the thermoneutral zone, where they can maintain a stable body temperature without extra effort. If temperatures stray from this range, birds may suffer heat stress, which occurs when their heat gain exceeds their ability to cool down, leading to an energy imbalance that can harm their health and performance.
According to studies, the exposure of poultry to heat stress changes the gene expression of cytokines, upregulates heat shock proteins (HSP), and reduces the concentration of thyroid hormones. This means that the poultry are too hot for an extended period and this causes changes in gene expression related to cytokines, which are molecules that help the body respond to stress and injury. The condition also upregulates heat shock proteins (HSP), meaning the body produces more of these special proteins to protect cells from heat damage. Additionally, the heat reduces the concentration of thyroid hormones, which are responsible for regulating metabolism and body temperature. Lower levels of these hormones can affect the bird’s overall health.
When heat stress persists, other experts say, these cascades of cellular reactions result in tissue damage and malfunction. If the heat continues for a prolonged period, these cellular reactions become a chain of events (a cascade), which ultimately leads to tissue damage. The damage occurs in the bird’s body parts like muscles and organs, causing them to malfunction, meaning they don’t work properly.
The animals exposed to heat stress suffer adverse effects in terms of performance, which are widely known and include high mortality, lower growth and production, and a decline in meat and egg quality. In simple terms, the poultry’s performance worsens as a result of the heat. They experience high mortality, meaning more birds die due to the stress, and they also have lower growth and production, so they don’t grow as well or produce as much meat or eggs. Moreover, the quality of the meat and eggs produced by these birds declines because of the stress.
Other expert’s recommendations for combatting heat stress
Professor Adebukunola Olufunmilayo Lala of Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa (LIFA) recommends that poultry farmers take specific actions to combat heat stress. She suggests improving housing ventilation, implementing cooling systems, and using proper feed management to reduce the effects of heat stress.
“Apart from decreasing production, most of the farmers are experiencing sudden death,” she said. “A farmer must have a well-ventilated building, and the cooling system must be effective in terms of providing cool drinking water and increasing water points.”
Professor Lala advises reducing animal density to improve ventilation, sprinkling water for cooling, and using shading to mitigate heat stress. Proper nutrition with increased energy and fat, along with the supplementation of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, can also help reduce heat stress in poultry.
