title: Effect of pelleted feed on the incidence of ascites in broilers reared at low altitudes.
abstract: A study was conducted to investigate whether the use of pelleted feeds might influence the incidence of ascites in broilers reared at low altitudes (730 meters above sea level). In two trials carried out under commercial conditions, broilers were fed practical-type rations from 1 day to 7 weeks of age, in either mash or pellet form. In both trials, low incidences of ascites (less than 5%) were recorded for broilers receiving feed as pellets. No cases of the syndrome were observed in birds fed mash, either in the field or at the processing plant. These data suggest that the positive relationship between pelleted feeds and incidence of ascites observed at high altitudes also exists at lower elevations.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Veterinaria, Universidade Federale de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lamas da Silva
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Luchesi
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000662:veterinary; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality