WITH UK temperatures on the rise, farmers are being urged to check the temperature of their broiler and dairy sheds to avoid a loss of production.

The warning has been issued by ventilation, heating and controls specialist Hydor, which has seen a spike in reports of high temperatures in dairy sheds and broilers across the UK, due in part to outdated or faulty ventilation equipment.

Hydor managing director, Duncan Burl said: “The soaring temperatures we’re currently experiencing can prove a challenge to livestock. Overheating in both chickens and cows has been linked to a loss of productivity and, in extreme cases, death.

“We’ve already seen a significant number of calls come in from farmers looking to upgrade their ventilation systems in light of the extreme heat seen in June and early July. Productivity can decline at temperatures from 25°C upwards in the average cow and even lower in high yielding animals, so it’s essential that careful monitoring of heat levels takes place regularly during the hotter months.”

For chickens an increase in body temperature of just 4°C can result in fatalities, with birds requiring approximately five days to acclimatise to high temperatures, according to the Defra.

For dairy cows body temperatures of 42°C and above can prove fatal, and the effects on production can be noted from an atmospheric temperature of just 25°C.

Mr Burl added: “Effective ventilation has been identified, as key to mitigating extreme heat in cows and chickens by both Defra and a number of in-depth studies. Out-dated, or underperforming equipment can have a significant impact on effectiveness, so it’s integral that ventilation systems are operating at their optimum performance at this time of year.”