Chickens in Malaysia are producing fewer eggs. Is haze a leading cause?

This year’s haze crisis has added to the heat woes squeezing livestock farmers in Malaysia and Indonesia, as they struggle to keep their animals cool, fed and productive.

While it is difficult to separately assess the effects of haze-related smoke from heat, water shortages, feed and disease, farmers and industry groups say the cumulative strain is severely affecting animal health, productivity and their finances.

In Selama, Perak, poultry keeper Zaiful Zakaria, 42, had begun installing ventilation fans at his open-sided chicken sheds before the haze hit Malaysia in August.

The fans were meant to draw out heat accumulating inside the sheds and protect the well-being of his mainly ornamental and heritage-breed chickens. Zaiful later also began installing a water-misting system.