Study on Mechanism of Ascites Syndrome of Broilers

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). The mash feed could reduce body weight and the onset of ascites, compared with the pellet feed.