However, little attention has been given to the fact that hot, humid summer conditions also create problems for feed quality. Most people recognize the inverse relationship between food stability and temperature. The higher the temperature, the more rapidly we expect food to deteriorate. Humans instinctively know that food quality can be preserved for longer periods of time at low temperatures. The introduction of refrigeration technology in this century has largely replaced traditional preservation techniques such as drying and salting.
Chemical reactions proceed more rapidly at higher temperatures.
The poultry producer should make every effort to keep feed in a place where temperatures do not become excessive. The commercial producer with a metal bin exposed to sun is less able to do this efficiently. However, on large commercial farms feed is frequently delivered several times per week. The backyard producer, on the other hand, may have purchased an amount of feed which will last for several weeks. This is plenty of time for feed to go out of condition and lose nutritive value if kept in a hot place, such as a metal storage shed.