Energy and nitrogen metabolism and oxygen use by broilers susceptible to ascites and grown at three environmental temperatures

Predicting nutrient digestibility and energy value for broilers

Digestibility coefficients of nutrients, metabolizable energy (ME), net energy (NE) and the ratio of NE to ME (NE/ME) of 20 diets were measured in broiler chickens (1 to 21 d). Dietary nutrients were formulated to keep similar ME/nutrient ratios, except for dietary protein, fat, and fiber using corn, soybean meal, animal protein blend, barley, poultry oil and an enzyme mixture of xylanase, glucanase, and phytase. Digestibility coefficients of nutrients and ME were measured in battery cages under free-access of feed, while NE was measured in floor pens feeding 75% of recommended ME intake each day. NE for maintenance was calculated on basis of mean metabolic weight using a coefficient from a previous study and NE for gain was calculated by body protein and fat gains using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Digestibility coefficients of protein and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were curvilinearly related to dietary protein and NDF, respectively, while digestibility coefficients of fat and starch were linearly correlated to dietary fat and starch, respectively. The inclusion of enzymes increased the digestion coefficient of NDF to predict the digestibility of protein, NDF, fat, and starch. MEn/gross energy ratio averaged 72.5% and was correlated to protein, fat, NDF, and starch. ME values were accurately predicted from chemical characteristics, where best equations were obtained from digestible nutrients. Energetic efficiencies of ME were 72% (NE/MEn) and 68% (NE/ME) and varied by about 20 and 18%, respectively. Ratios of energetic efficiency were 68% for digestible carbohydrates; 86% for digestible fat; and 76% (NE/MEn) and 59% (NE/ME) for digestible protein. According to the lowest residual standard deviation the best nutrient components to predict energy were digestible nutrients for predicting ME values (41 kcal/kg); digestible protein intake, fecal organic matter, and body fat and protein for predicting heat increment values (111 kcal/kg); and combination of ME and crude nutrient for predicting NE values (140 kcal/kg).

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (ascites syndrome) in broilers: a review

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) syndrome in broilers (also known as ascites syndrome and pulmonary hypertension syndrome) can be attributed to imbalances between cardiac output and the anatomical capacity of the pulmonary vasculature to accommodate ever-increasing rates of blood flow, as well as to an inappropriately elevated tone (degree of constriction) maintained by the pulmonary arterioles. Comparisons of PAH-susceptible and PAH-resistant broilers do not consistently reveal differences in cardiac output, but PAH-susceptible broilers consistently have higher pulmonary arterial pressures and pulmonary vascular resistances compared with PAH-resistant broilers. Efforts clarify the causes of excessive pulmonary vascular resistance have focused on evaluating the roles of chemical mediators of vasoconstriction and vasodilation, as well as on pathological (structural) changes occurring within the pulmonary arterioles (e.g., vascular remodeling and pathology) during the pathogenesis of PAH. The objectives of this review are to (1) summarize the pathophysiological progression initiated by the onset of pulmonary hypertension and culminating in terminal ascites; (2) review recent information regarding the factors contributing to excessively elevated resistance to blood flow through the lungs; (3) assess the role of the immune system during the pathogenesis of PAH; and (4) present new insights into the genetic basis of PAH. The cumulative evidence attributes the elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in PAH-susceptible broilers to an anatomically inadequate pulmonary vascular capacity, to excessive vascular tone reflecting the dominance of pulmonary vasoconstrictors over vasodilators, and to vascular pathology elicited by excessive hemodynamic stress. Emerging evidence also demonstrates that the pathogenesis of PAH includes characteristics of an inflammatory/autoimmune disease involving multifactorial genetic, environmental, and immune system components. Pulmonary arterial hypertension susceptibility appears to be multigenic and may be manifested in aberrant stress sensitivity, function, and regulation of pulmonary vascular tissue components, as well as aberrant activities of innate and adaptive immune system components. Major genetic influences and high heritabilities for PAH susceptibility have been demonstrated by numerous investigators. Selection pressures rigorously focused to challenge the pulmonary vascular capacity readily expose the genetic basis for spontaneous PAH in broilers. Chromosomal mapping continues to identify regions associated with ascites susceptibility, and candidate genes have been identified. Ongoing immunological and genomic investigations are likely to continue generating important new knowledge regarding the fundamental biological bases for the PAH/ascites syndrome.

Genotype-by-environment interaction with broiler genotypes differing in growth rate. 4. Association between responses to heat stress and to cold-induced ascites

Males and females, selected from a commercial line to represent its phenotypic variation for BW, were mated with similarly ranked mates to produce sire families representing a wide genetic variation in potential growth rate (GR). Following 5 wk of rearing at normal ambient temperatures, birds representing all sire families were exposed to cold (Days 37 to 47, Trial 1) or hot (Days 43 to 48, Trial 2) environments. Birds exhibiting ascites syndrome (AS) in the cold environment (Trial 1) were counted, and the incidence of AS (%AS) per family was calculated. Sire families' least-square means of BW at 37 d of age in Trial 1 and BW at 43 d of age in Trial 2 represented the families' potential GR (i.e., GR under normal conditions). A significant positive correlation was found between potential GR and %AS (r = 0.479, Trial 1), indicating that families with higher potential GR under normal conditions are more likely to suffer from AS under cold stress, compared to families with lower GR. Heat stress markedly reduced weight gain in all families (Trial 2); however, the genetic potential GR was negatively correlated with actual GR under heat stress (r = -0.411, Trial 2). Since offspring of the same sire families were exposed to the two stressful environmental conditions, correlations between sire families' means under the two environments could be calculated. A negative correlation was found between growth under heat stress (Trial 2) and %AS (Trial 1) (r = -0.439), indicating that families whose GR is more depressed under heat stress are more likely to suffer from AS under cold stress. These results suggest that the two stress responses may share similar control of the genetic variation in each trait and their negative genetic correlation with potential GR.

Association between weight gain, blood parameters, and thyroid hormones and the development of ascites syndrome in broiler chickens

The present study examined the association between thyroid hormones and the development of ascites on one hand and the ability to predict ascites from growth rate and hematocrit on the other hand. Ascites syndrome was induced in broiler chickens in two trials by exposing the chicks to low ambient temperature (Ta) and by supplying a pellet form of diet. Weight gain, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and plasma thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were measured weekly for each bird, and comparisons were made between birds that eventually died from ascites and those that did not. Mortality from ascites amounted to 24.3 and 24.2% in Trials 1 and 2, respectively. Weight gain did not differ between ascitic and healthy chickens up to approximately 2 wk before death but was significantly lower in the ascitic broilers 1 to 2 wk before death. Hematocrit was significantly higher in broilers with ascites with the exception of ascitic broilers that died at the age of 7 wk (Trial 1). In ascitic broilers, T4 and T3 concentrations declined significantly during the week of death. The present findings raise the question of whether the association between low levels of thyroid hormones and the development of ascites is one of the physiological responses in the syndrome cascade, or whether the failure to maintain thyroid hormones concentration is one of the triggers of the syndrome initiation. This question requires further investigation. It can be concluded that a high rate of weight gain is not always a good predictor of ascites development. Hematocrit and thyroid hormones can provide a good indication but only during the last week of life, and not in all cases. None of these parameters, however, can predict the development of ascites at an early age.

Broiler breeder survivors of chronic unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion produce progeny resistant to pulmonary hypertension syndrome (ascites) induced by cool temperatures

Chronic occlusion of one pulmonary artery triggers a high incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS, ascites) in broilers. In the present study, the left pulmonary artery was chronically occluded in 295 male and 255 female chicks pedigreed from 18 sire families, leading to PHS in 74% of the males and 45% of the females. Survivors were reared to breeding age and served as parents for the resulting PHS-resistant chicks (Resistant), whereas control chicks were produced from the base population for this line (Base). In two experiments, male and female Resistant and Base chicks were reared separately by sex but mixed by group within environmental chambers, where they were exposed to cool (14 C) temperatures. In both experiments, the incidence of PHS was at least 50% lower in the Resistant males and females than in the Base males and females, respectively. When compared within a sex, the Base and Resistant broilers surviving to the end of both experiments did not differ in final body weight or body weight gain, nor did their right:total ventricular weight (RV:TV) ratios differ. These results demonstrate that broiler breeders capable of thriving after having their entire cardiac output forced to flow through one lung, subsequently produced male and female progeny with substantially improved resistance to the onset of PHS induced by fast growth and exposure to cool environmental temperatures. Fast growth and cool temperatures are primary triggers for PHS under most conditions of commercial broiler growout. In both experiments, final necropsies revealed higher RV:TV ratios in ascitic than in nonascitic broilers, whereas normalizing the left ventricle plus septum weight for differences in body weight generated similar values for ascitic and nonascitic males or females, respectively. These results support a primary role for pulmonary hypertension but not cardiomyopathy in the pathogenesis of ascites triggered by cool temperatures in both the Base and Resistant populations.

Cardiac output in four-, five-, and six-week-old broilers, and hemodynamic responses to intravenous injections of epinephrine

Female broilers were evaluated at 4, 5, and 6 wk of age (1.2, 1.8, and 2.3 kg BW, respectively) to assess changes in cardiac output and related hemodynamics associated with BW gain, and to evaluate cardiopulmonary hemodynamic adjustments occurring secondary to i.v. injections of epinephrine (0.1 mg/ kg BW). Cardiac output increased with BW (253, 348, and 434 mL/min at 4, 5, and 6 wk, respectively) due to increases in stroke volume (0.70, 1.03, and 1.33 mL/beat) that more than compensated for reductions in heart rate (362, 337, and 328 bpm). Normalization for BW eliminated the differences in cardiac output and stroke volume. Increases in cardiac output were not associated with age- or BW-related increases in mean systemic arterial pressure (101.5, 108.6, and 108.0 mm Hg) due to corresponding reductions in total peripheral resistance (0.41, 0.32, and 0.26 relative resistance units). Epinephrine initially triggered immediate (within 90 s) threefold increases in total peripheral resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance, which, in turn, increased the systemic arterial pressure and pulmonary arterial pressure in spite of concurrent reductions in cardiac output that were associated with diminished venous return and dependent reductions in stroke volume and heart rate. Within 150 s after epinephrine injection, the systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances returned to preinjection control levels. By 300 s postinjection, stroke volume and heart rate increased, causing cardiac output to rise above preinjection control levels, which, in turn, elicited variable pulmonary arterial pressure responses apparently reflecting individual variability in the capacity for flow-dependent pulmonary vasodilation. These studies demonstrate that chronic (age- and BW-related) and acute (epinephrine-induced) changes in cardiac output in broilers reflect complex interactions among hemodynamic variables that include stroke volume, heart rate, and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances.

Manipulation of organ growth by early-life food restriction: its influence on the development of ascites in broiler chickens

1. Broilers were fed ad libitum or early-life food restricted and grown to 42 d of age to determine the influence of food restriction on the incidence and occurrence of ascites. 2. No differences in body weight, food conversion efficiency or arterial pressure index were observed although haematological data indicated that early-life food restriction may enhance the incidence of ascites. 3. Allometric growth equations fitted to the data suggested that ascites is associated with the slower development of the heart, lungs and liver of the broiler, relative to whole body growth and development.

Response of broilers susceptible to ascites when grown in high and low oxygen environments

1. Broilers selected on the basis of food conversion efficiency or growth rate were grown under normal (21%) or varied (19%, 23%) oxygen environments. 2. Broilers selected for food conversion efficiency had greater growth rates and superior food conversion efficiencies than broilers selected for growth rate. No interactions between broiler strain and oxygen level were observed. 3. Increasing environmental oxygen level decreased N efficiency in both broiler strains. Nitrogen turnover was non-significantly decreased. 4. Ascites may only occur when broilers are able to cope with small environmental adversities while maintaining optimal growth rates.