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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #110701
Title: COMPARISON OF ASCITES RESISTANT, ASCITES SUSCEPTIBLE AND RELAXED LINES OF BROILERS 2. HEMATOLOGY, ORGAN WEIGHTS AND HISTOLOGY.

Author
item Balog, Janice
item KIDD, BRENDA - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item ANTHONY, N. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item Huff, Geraldine
item Huff, William
item Rath, Narayan

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/25/2000
Publication Date: 8/25/2000
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Comparison of Ascites Resistant, Ascites Susceptible and Relaxed Lines of Broilers 2. Hematology, Organ Weights and Histology. J. M. Balog1, B. D. Kidd1,2, N. B. Anthony2, G. R. Huff1, W. E. Huff1, and N. C. Rath1, 1USDA/ARS/PP&PSR, 2Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 Ascites is a metabolic disease of fast growing meat-type birds. An ascites resistant and an ascites susceptible line were developed using ascites mortality data obtained from 5 generations of hypobaric testing (simulated 2900m above sea level). A relaxed line was used to represent the original commercial pure-line stock with no selection pressure applied. The objective of this study was to determine differences between the lines when reared in floor pens. Seven hundred eighty three straight-run broilers were reared in floor pens at local elevation (390 m above sea level). Birds were warm room brooded for two wk, then cold stressed at 14o C for the remaining four wk. At six wk, blood gases, clinical chemistries and blood cell counts were taken. Liver, spleen, split heart,and lung weights were recorded. Lung cavity was measured. Susceptible and relaxed lines showed significantly more right ventricular hypertrophy when compared with the resistant line (P < 0.05). Clincial chemistries also reflected the ascites status of the birds. It has been shown that when birds develop ascites, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase decrease and uric acid increases. The resistant line showed significantly higher phosphorus and and alkaline phosphatase and lower uric acid, when compared to the other groups (P <0.05).