Effects of diaoxinxuekang on ascites in broilers.
To investigate whether Diaoxinxuekang (a Chinese medicine that is reported to improve blood circulation) plays a role in preventing ascites in broilers, day-old male broilers were divided randomly into four groups, each with seven replicates, and reared for 40 days. The birds were housed in a brooder room from Day 1 to 21 and then reared in an environmental chamber room under low temperatures. Diaoxinxuekang was added to rations at the rate of 0, 500, 1,500, and 3,500 mg/kg as Treatments 1 to 4. When Diaoxinxuekang was added to rations, body weight in the first 3 wk was increased significantly, but feed consumption remained unchanged. Heart weight was not significantly different between control and treatments, but liver weight in the control and 500 mg/kg group was heavier than in Treatments 3 and 4. Within treatment, heart weight of the normal broiler was less than that of the broiler with ascites. Treatment 4 showed significantly (P < .05) less ascites than Treatments 1, 2, and 3 in the processing examination. The results present evidence that 3,500 mg/kg Diaoxinxuekang reduces the incidence of ascites in broilers.
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
J Y
JY
Wang
R R
RR
Hacker
D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012503:Saponins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; C083097:diaoxinxuekang