Heat stress has increasingly become more severe over the last decade, and it affects the animal farming industry globally with huge economic losses. Heat stress can occur irrespective of animal species, immune status or age with a number of important physiological consequences that require immediate attention to prevent economic loss, disease and even animal death.
Oxidative stress
One of the consequences of heat stress is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a state that occurs when there is an excess of free radicals – usually in the form of reactive oxygen species – which outnumber antioxidants in the body's cells. Although the body produces free radicals during normal metabolic processes excess of oxidative stress can do damage.
Environmental stress can cause sharp increases of oxidative stress and an imbalance in the antioxidant status. As such, heat stress is considered a key factor for several deleterious effects in animal health and welfare. High temperatures can adversely affect the structure and physiology not only of cells but also of their proteins and DNA and can lead to impairment of oxidative metabolism and cell membrane structure and function.
Alleviating heat stress in farm animals through antioxidant vitamin supplementation is therefore, of paramount importance. Vitalite®C12, a unique and stable vitamin C in liquid form, has a strong antioxidant activity. The stability has been tested and guaranteed for more than 12 months. High quality vitamin C is the most important water-soluble antioxidant in all organism cells and, consequently helps animals maintain, and even increase, feed intake during the difficult period of heat stress.
Electrolyte imbalance
During heat stress, the respiration rate and water intake are also increased which lead to losses of carbon dioxide and changes in acid-base balance. This imbalance can suppress the feed intake and may result in diarrhoea and even death. Due to their osmotic participation the trace-minerals K+, Na+ and Cl- play essential roles in the acid-base balance, aiding the integrity of cell membrane transport mechanisms. Imbalances of these minerals affect several metabolic functions, and ultimately, animal performance.
Vitamins and minerals for drinking water help restore the electrolyte balance and therefore support animal tolerance to heat stress. Tracelite Ions is composed of such needed vitamins and minerals for drinking water application and is offered in a chelated form which is 10 to 20 times better utilized by the animal. Due to its glycinate complex activation, the Tracelite range is readily absorbed for optimum body utilization enabling appropriate mineral balancing.
Vitalite®C12 and Tracelite Ions – a MUST for all animal species in the summer!
Recognize these negative consequences of heat stress?
Request Innovad's® heat stress guide with our expert Dr. Milena Sevastiyanova to discover more about the impact of heat stress on animal health, revenue and productivity, as well as possible solutions.
