As temperatures drop in winter, poultry farmers face the dual challenge of maintaining optimal conditions for their flocks while managing costs to ensure profitability.
According to Izaak Breitenbach, the general manager of the South African Poultry Association (Sapa), winter has additional challenges on the local poultry market.
“Low temperatures and humidity put stress on the respiratory systems of poultry, making them more susceptible to viral diseases like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI),” he said.
He said this period also sees a reduction in broiler growth rates and an increase in mortality rates, complicating the farming process.
Breitenbach advised poultry farmers to focus on temperature control and prevent CO2 buildup, which can negatively impact the birds.
“Improving biosecurity measures is also crucial to prevent the entry of poultry viruses into the houses,” he said.
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Economic impact and mitigation strategies
Breitenbach said winter months typically see a dip in demand for poultry as consumers prioritise heating expenses, leading to lower market prices for chicken.
He said the reduced productivity and increased production costs further squeeze profitability. Producers often reduce their flock sizes during this period to avoid overstocking and incurring high storage costs, Breitenbach added.
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“To mitigate these challenges, we recommend thorough planning and proactive measures. Producers need to plan for winter, focusing on disease prevention and managing production efficiently to navigate these seasonal variations.
“By reducing slaughter numbers and improving biosecurity, poultry farmers can better manage the economic impact and maintain their operations’ viability,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Mikie Mkhatha, a poultry farmer from Pretoria, said for chicks, the first 12 days are crucial because they require consistent warmth to thrive.
“It is essential to prepare for winter well in advance. During our March batch, we started making adjustments to our heating systems, ensuring they are in top condition.
“I recommend using insulated curtains and proper ventilation to retain heat while avoiding moisture buildup, which can be detrimental to the chicks’ health,” said Mkhatha.
Maintaining balance in chicken house
She added that maintaining a stable environment within the chicken house is critical and advised against letting the water supply heat up, as this can stress the chickens and affect their health.
“Good temperament in the chicken house is about balance, keeping it warm enough for the chicks without overheating the water or the space,” she said.
Mandilake Jali, a poultry farmer from the Eastern Cape, explained that small-scale poultry farmers are mostly challenged during winter and mostly because of a lack of proper infrastructure.
“It becomes a big problem because some of the farmers rely on electricity but we have not been using it consistently as of late. But if there is no electricity, farmers do not have backup power like solar power and generators, which is a challenge for them.
“I use a small generator that I can run for about four hours but if load shedding comes back with higher stages, then I am affected as well. I still encourage farmers to still have their backup,” he said.
Jali said the biggest problem is with day-old chicks. “The first three days of their lives are very critical and if a farmer has no proper energy and warmth in those three days, the morality is challenged. It’s usually dire for a small-scale farmer because they could lose 50% of their chickens.
“The winter season is over three months and in those three months sometimes I downscale my broiler chickens. In all the other seasons I find a way to save money I can use for the winter seasons and buy or hire backup power sources for just the winter period,” he said.
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