Authors : Q.H. Zheng , Y.B. Jiang , J.L. Guo , Q.Q. Yin , W. Chen and W.Cheng
Abstract: Two hundred and forty male Cobb broilers were used to study the reasons of causing ascites. The results showed that cold ambient temperature could induce ascites (33.89 vs. 2.50%) and significantly increase Triiodothyronine (T3), but reduce Thyroxine (T4) concentrations in plasma (p< 0.05). The ascitic broilers had high concentrations of aldosterone and K��, but low concentrations of T3 and T4 in the plasma (p< 0.05). The lower body weight and higher relative heart, lung and liver weight of the ascitic broilers demonstrated the metabolic disarrangement. When ascites occurred, hematocrit in blood increased significantly (p< 0.05) although there were no significant changes in total protein and albumin concentrations in plasma except for week 5. The mash feed could reduce body weight and the onset of ascites and lower the concentrations of Ca, Na and P ions in plasma in week 7, compared with the pellet feed (p< 0.05).
Q.H. Zheng , Y.B. Jiang , J.L. Guo , Q.Q. Yin , W. Chen and W.Cheng , 2007. Study on Mechanism of Ascites Syndrome of Broilers . Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 1: 72-75.