title: Supplemental L-arginine attenuates pulmonary hypertension syndrome (ascites) in broilers.
abstract: The incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS; ascites) was evaluated in two experiments using broiler breeder male by-product chicks exposed after 3 wk of age to cool environmental temperatures (10 to 15 C). In Experiment 1, 3- to 6-wk-old birds were fed a grower diet to which 0 (Control), .25, .5, or 1% supplemental L-arginine HCl had been added. During Weeks 7 to 8, all groups in Experiment 1 were fed a finisher diet containing no supplemental arginine. In Experiment 2, the Control group received no supplemental arginine, a second group was fed a grower diet supplemented with 1% L-arginine HCl (Weeks 3 to 6), and a third group was fed grower and finisher diets supplemented with 1% L-arginine HCl (Weeks 3 to 8). Cumulative PHS mortality was significantly reduced by 1% L-arginine HCl on Days 34 to 46 in Experiment 1. When data from all birds fed grower or finisher diets supplemented with 1% L-arginine HCl were pooled in Experiment 2, cumulative PHS mortality was marginally lower (P = .065) than for the Control group. Supplemental L-arginine HCl had no effect on final body weights, weight gain, or feed conversion in either experiment. Neither body weight on Day 1 or 21 nor net weight gain from Days 1 to 21 determined susceptibility to PHS during the subsequent grower and finisher intervals in either experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701, USA.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Wideman
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Bottje
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Vardeman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002645:Chickens; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine