Abstract
Problem statement: Ascites is a common rapid-growth-related problem in broiler chickens grown at high altitude where the partial pressure o f oxygen is low and is marginally adequate to support the growth performance and ascites-related variables. A mismatch between the growth of oxygen supplying organs and the oxygen demanding organs causes ascites in broiler chickens. In the present study, broilers were subjected to two types of feed restri ction with or without probiotics and changes in the growth rate of body organs were attr ibuted to the incidence of ascites. Approach: Four hundred male day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design to five treatments: (1) a control group fed ad libitum throughout the experiment (2) a group subjected to meal feeding during 5-11 days of age with feeding t imes from 08-12 h and 13-17 h, (3) a group similar to treatment 2 except to received probiotics, (4) a sk ip-a-day feeding with 24 h fasting on days 9 and 11 and (5) a group similar to treatment 4 except to receiv ed probiotics. Probiotics was only used during the feed restriction at 1 g L -1 in the drinking water. Broilers reared on litter f looring from 1-49 days of age. Results: Both feed restriction programs used under condition s of the experiment resulted in poorer performance relative to the full-fed control but re tarded growth caught u p at the end of experiment. Carcass and breast yield were significantly (p <0.05) reduced right after feed restriction but not later on. Heart and liver percentages showed a reverse growth pattern after termination of feed restriction. Fee d restriction had no consistent effect on abdominal f at deposition. Broilers subjected to the feed restr iction had significantly (p<0.05) lower proportion of righ t ventricle to total ventricles. Probiotics had no beneficial impact on the compensatory growth though they tended to reduce the mortality from ascites. Conclusion: Early feed restriction did not influence the propor tional growth of body organs and had no significant impact on ascites incidence. Probiotics had a positive effect in prevention of ascites.
Highlights
Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS), is a condition commonly observed in commercial broilers frequently often referred to as “ascites”
Five treatments were used as follow: (1) a control group with unlimited access to feed throughout the experiment (2) a group subjected to meal feeding during 5-11 days of age, (3) a group similar to treatment 2 except that received probiotics at 1 g L−1 in the drinking water during meal feeding period. (4) a skip-a-day feeding with 24 h fasting on days 9 and 11 and (5) a group similar to treatment 4 except that received probiotics at 1 g L−1 in the drinking water during fasting intervals
Meal feeding for a week by allowing birds to feed in two 4 h intervals and skip-a-day feeding with two days off brought about 20.8 and 28% in body weigh relative to the full-fed control but retarded growth caught up to 42 days of age
Summary
Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS), is a condition commonly observed in commercial broilers frequently often referred to as “ascites”. Feed restriction programs are usually used in broiler production to prevent metabolic diseases and leg deformities (Julian, 2000). Skip-a-day feeding usually implements in broiler breeder production but it has been used effectively in broiler chickens. An intensive skip-a-day feeding was used in broilers raised at high altitudes to prevent PHS but it imposed severe stress to birds and resulted in poor performance (Khajali et al, 2007). Meal feeding has been used and shown to be an effective feed restriction program in broiler production. The advantage of meal feeding compared to skip-a-day feed restriction program is that it is less stressful (Susbilla, 2003)
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