In animals, stress can come from crowding and handling, debeaking, vaccination, improper temperature control, parasites, high humidity, type and location of houses, light intensity, ventilation, noxious gases (ammonia, CO2 and methane), transportation, tail-trimming,castration, changing pens, lack of feed and water, nutrient defi ciencies, diseases, etc. Especially if it happens for an extended period of time, stress can cause a lot of things to animals: reduce disease immunity, dehydration, diarrhea, poor feed conversion, lower growth rate, decreased libido and poor semen quality in boars, among many other things. Another cause of animal stress is mycotoxins.

Present in molds and fungi that grow in grain stored under poor storage conditions, they are known to interfere in the digestion and absorption of nutrients.

They can also increase leg weakness and reduce production potential among the flock. Stress is a silent poultry and livestock menace, especially in tropical Asia where the heat can be particularly suffocating and the weather fluctuating.

There are many ways to combat stress. They include better farm ventilation, improved diets, adequate water supply, replacement of lost electrolytes, and increased use of necessary vitamins.

Electrolytes are particularly useful in minimizing stress symptoms. They not only restore body fluids, they also facilitate antibiotic and vitamin absorption.