Comparative Survey Of Ascites Syndrome Incidence Rate In Various Strains Of Broiler Chickens

Ascites syndrome is indicating the abnormal accumulation of non-inflammatory fluid in abdominal space. Hypoxia is the most important cause of pulmonary hyper blood pressure in broiler poultry. The aim of this study is a comparative survey of ascites syndrome incidence rate in Ross, Arbor-Acrese and Cobb strains of broiler chickens. For this purpose, 150 broiler male chicks of Ross, Cobb, and Arbor-Acrese strain, and totally 450 chicks were distributed to three groups The breeding condition was identical for all groups. For increasing the susceptibility to ascites syndrome, pellet meal and cold stress were used and 16oC was applied since their 7 to 21 day old then the temperature was brought to 22 oC, suddenly and did not changed until the end of breeding period. The rate of ascites syndrome incidence in Cobb strain was highest and in Ross strain was lowest. Hematocrit parameter in Cobb and Arbor-acres strains increased following third week compared with Ross strain. Between Ross and Cobb strains on 28 day, and among all groups on 35 and 42 days was different statistically (p<0.05). The growth rate of Cobb and Arbor-acres was more than Ross and it was statistically different among all three strains on the end of experiment (p<0.05). Feed usage in Arboracres strain was more than two other strains which was statistically different (p<0.05). But FCR was not different statistically between groups. The results of this experiment showed that cobb strain was susceptible to the ascites syndrome in cold regions.