Ascites syndrome in broilers: physiological and nutritional perspectives

Abstract

Broiler chickens are intensively selected for productive traits. The management of these highly productive animals must be optimal to allow their full genetic potential to be expressed. If this is not done, inefficient production and several metabolic diseases such as ascites become apparent. The causes of the ascites are multifactorial but diet and, particularly, interactions between diet, other environmental and genetic factors play an important role. The relatively high heritability estimates for ascites-related traits and the significance of maternal genetic effects for most of the traits indicate that direct and maternal genetic effects play an important role in development of the ascites syndrome. An imbalance between oxygen supply and the oxygen required to sustain rapid growth rates and high food efficiencies causes ascites in broiler chickens. Because of the relationship to oxygen demand, ascites is affected and/or precipitated by factors such as growth rate, altitude (hypoxia) and environmental temperature. As the high metabolic rate (fast growth) is a major factor contributing to the susceptibility of broilers to ascites, early-age feed or nutrient restriction (qualitative or quantitative) or light restriction in order to slow down the growth rate seem practically viable methods, since final body weight is not compromised. Manipulation of the diet composition and/or feed allocation system can have a major effect on the incidence of ascites. Optimization of the house temperature and ventilation in cold weather seem helpful practices to decrease ascites incidence.

Temperature gradients in trailers and changes in broiler rectal and core body temperature during winter transportation in Saskatchewan

“…In 1999, Saskatchewan and Canadian average mortality losses for all poultry classifications were 0.50 and 0.56%, respectively (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). In this study mortality ranged from 0.7 to 1.4%, and ascites, a condition common to fast-growing broilers and influenced significantly by farm management (Baghbanzadeh and Decuypere 2008), was the predominant cause of death. Bird mortality from the transportation period of Journey 3 was 0.4%, whereas the total number of birds dying between departure of the production site and slaughter was 0.9%.…”

Cold-Induced Ascites in Broilers: Effects of Vitamin C and Coenzyme Q10

“…C addition returned RBC counts to the normal levels. Continuous increase in corticosterone levels in ascitic chickens resulted in increased production of red blood cells (Baghbanzadeh & Decuypere, 2008). Supplemental Vit.…”

Effect of early feed restriction on physiological responses, performance and ascites incidence in broiler chickens raised in normal or cold environment

“…Modern broilers are intensively selected for fast growth rate combined with a low feed conversion ratio (FCR) (Luger et al, 2003;Baghbanzadeh and Decuypere, 2008). This, coupled with insufficient development of cardio-pulmonary systems to support that rapid growth, resulted in greater susceptibility to metabolic disorders such as ascites syndrome (also known as pulmonary hypertension syndrome and pulmonary arterial hypertension syndrome) (Luger et al, 2003;Wideman et al, 2013), which is one of the major causes of mortality and economic loss in modern broiler industry (Aftab and Khan, 2005;Ozkan et al, 2010).…”