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Heat stress in animals: protect performance when temperatures rise 

Summer may be great for holidays – but for animals, it’s a stress test. Heat stress lowers feed intake and milk yield, weakens the immune system and affects profitability. When animals struggle to cool down, energy is redirected away from growth, production and recovery. 

Our feed solutions are designed to support heat in stress animals by helping maintain oxidative balance, gut resilience and nutrient utilisation – so performance stays more stable during warm periods. 

 

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Why heat stress affects more than feed intake 

Heat stress impacts the whole system. As intake drops, animals may also experience changes in digestion, higher inflammatory load and reduced resilience. In practice, heat stress often leads to: 

  • Lower daily gain and poorer feed conversion 
  • Reduced milk yield and less stable production results 
  • Higher vulnerability to disease and treatment pressure 
  • Greater risk of digestive imbalance during heat load 

The earlier you act, the easier it is to limit losses. 

Signs of heat stress in farm animals 

Different species show heat stress differently, but the patterns are often the same. Typical signs include: 

  • Panting or rapid breathing 
  • Reduced appetite and slower performance 
  • Increased water intake 
  • Lethargy and reduced activity 
  • Restlessness or animals clustering around water and airflow 

If these signs appear, it’s time to review ventilation, stocking density, water availability and feeding routines – and add nutritional support that helps animals cope with heat load. 

Nutritional support during heat stress 

We focus on supporting animals from the inside when external conditions are hard to control. Our feed concepts are developed to: 

  • Support oxidative balance when stress increases free-radical load 
  • Help maintain gut integrity and microbiota stability 
  • Support nutrient utilisation when intake drops 
  • Improve resilience and recovery so performance is less disrupted 

Combined with practical management, targeted nutrition can make heat stress periods easier to handle – and faster to recover from. 

Let’s talk heat stress prevention 

Need help choosing the right approach for your animals and production setup? Our experts are ready to guide you.
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FAQ – Heat stress 

Get in touch with our specialists

Heat stress happens when animals can’t release enough heat to maintain normal body temperature. It reduces feed intake and productivity and can increase the risk of health issues during warm periods.

Common signs include panting or rapid breathing, reduced appetite, increased water intake, lower activity and uneven performance. Early action helps limit productivity losses.

Because animals still reduce intake to lower internal heat production. Less intake means less energy and fewer nutrients available for growth, milk yield and recovery.

Targeted feed solutions can support oxidative balance, gut stability and nutrient utilisation when animals eat less. This helps maintain more consistent performance and supports recovery after heat load.

Before peak temperatures arrive. Early preparation – including management routines and nutritional support – helps animals adapt and reduces the risk of sudden performance drops.