Rebate push to help poultry farmers tackle rising heat stress

Farmers are being urged to brace for intensifying heat after a severe heatwave in Jamaica killed hundreds of laying hens, raising concerns about the vulnerability of regional poultry stocks to rising temperatures.

Now, agricultural authorities here are urging farmers to implement urgent cooling measures to safeguard their poultry stocks ahead of peak mid-year heat.

The president of the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association (JEFA), Mark Campbell, told media there that the egg industry, particularly on the south side of the island, had suffered significant losses, with some farmers losing as many as 700 fowls from the sweltering heat.

Chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, issued a direct warning to livestock producers, stressing that proactive management is essential to prevent heat stress from devastating farm yields as seasonal temperatures continue to rise.

“I don’t rejoice on what’s happened in Jamaica,” Paul told Barbados TODAY. “I think that it is probably related to the heat conditions there. Environment changes and temperature changes have an impact. While I am not fully aware as to what the issues are, that’s something we have to follow up. But again, I just want to sound the warning to our local producers.”

Barbados has not yet experienced extreme temperature spikes this season, but Paul warned that the most challenging period lies immediately ahead. High environmental temperatures have historically triggered heat stress in birds, leading to lower feed conversion rates, reduced growth and increased mortality if left unmitigated.

“We have not really seen high temperatures as yet, but as we get closer and closer into the summer months, there will be high temperatures,” Paul explained. “The whole question of heat stress is something that has had a negative impact on birds in the past, and we don’t anticipate anything different going into the summer.”

To assist farmers in protecting their operations, the BAS is championing a government rebate scheme designed to lower internal coop temperatures. Under the initiative, farmers can access rebates of up to $15 000 to buy specialised heat-reflective roof paint, which significantly reduces thermal absorption inside poultry housing.

Paul added: “We are going to actually push that roofing paint, especially for small farmers, to mitigate the impact of the heat as we get deeper into summer. The rebate goes up to a maximum of $15 000 per farmer, which I would like to encourage farmers to take advantage of. If they need any information, they can always contact us here at the BAS, and we will direct them to the relevant person and help them to go through the application process with the Ministry of Agriculture.”

He suggested that farmers adopt a “boy scout” approach by preparing their facilities before heat stress takes hold, noting that complaining after losses occur is futile when early warnings have been issued.

Andrew Lewis, general manager of Gale’s Agro Products Limited, confirmed that while the primary hatchery has not recorded abnormal heat-induced losses so far this year, high mid-year temperatures present a recurring operational hazard for poultry farmers across the island.

“We are not experiencing anything like what you would have described in Jamaica at present,” Lewis said. “But certainly in the last few years, in the hotter summer months, the incidences of mortality and lower growth among our customers is a feature.”

As a major supplier of chicks, Gale’s Agro Products said it is taking extensive operational precautions during transit to ensure flock survival before delivery. But long-term resilience ultimately depends on individual farm management once the birds arrive on site, Lewis added. 

“We are primarily a hatchery, so we are sending out day-old chicks to farmers. Obviously, we send them out in as best ventilated or cool conditions as we can. However, once they arrive at the farmer, of course, then it really lies with the farmer.”

Lewis highlighted that the late summer and early autumn period — specifically late August, September and October — typically brings the most challenging climatic conditions. Poultry managers are being urged to ensure ventilation systems are fully operational, cooling measures are active and heat mitigation structures are secured to help their flocks weather the expected heat pressure.

(RR)