Effects of the physical form of diet on growth performance, ascites and sudden death syndrome incidences in broiler chickens

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of the diet physical form, Mash (M), Pellet (P) and Extruded (E) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and metabolic disorders ascites (AS) and as well as sudden death syndrome (SDS) in the broiler chickens. In this respect, feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG) and mortalitywere recorded throughout the experiment and biochemical parameters, hematology and carcass characteristics were tested at 35 and 42 days of age respectively. The results showed that with the increase of the average daily weight gain (ADWG) (p<0.01), the relative breast weight to the carcass weight (p<0.05), better feed conversion ratio (p<0.01), the lower relative cecum weight and gizzard to the carcass weight (p<0.05) were observed by applying the E diet form, as compared with the other treatments. A significant increase in the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was also observed by using the P diet form (p<0.01). Hematological parameters including hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), urea, uric acid, triglyceride, the ratio of low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein (LDL/HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), enzyme activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of the blood serum were lowered by applying the M treatment, as compared with the other treatments (p<0.05). The results indicated that the performance and carcass characteristics were improved by the E and P diet forms; also, with raising the hematology parameters in these treatments, the mortality of ascites and SDS was increased.

Impact of Phytobiotic Growth Promoters Supplementation on the Morphology and Biometry of the Vital Organs in Broilers

“…The relative weights of the heart, right lung, liver, and right kidney found in the current study ranged between 0.45-0.69%, 0.25-0.39%, 2.5-3.02%, and 0.30-0.35%, respectively. The relative weights of the heart, lung, liver, kidney, and testis have been found to be 0.52±0.07% (Gaya et al, 2007), 0.36±0.02% (Azizian & Saki, 2021), 2.6% (Nath et al, 2012), 0.609±0.02% (Xiao et al, 2011), and 0.81±0.14 (Mahmood et al, 2011), respectively, which is in line with the findings of our current study.…”

Poultry biodiversity for alternative farming systems development

“…Causes of Ross mortality were related to fast growth and were mainly Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) (65%) and ascites (35%) in conventional system, whereas for free-range mainly ascites (80%). This lower incidence of SDS in the free-range system (20%) was probably a consequence of the lowering of the growing rhythm due to the housing system (diet + uncontrolled environmental condition + lower density + higher locomotor activity) [36,37].…”