Lung volume of meat-type chickens.
Lung volume (LV) in meat-type chickens was measured by water displacement and was computed as a percentage of body weight (BW). The percentage of LV/BW declined from 2.02 +/- 0.190% at day 1 to 1.38 +/- 0.163% at day 144. Pulmonary hypertension caused by insufficient lung capillary capacity or oxygen exchange area results in right ventricular failure and ascites in meat-type chickens. Insufficient LV in very fast-growing broilers may contribute to this problem. Selection procedures in meat-type chickens should include a method for estimating LV.
Julian
R J
RJ
Department of Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values