Use of low doses of clenbuterol to reduce incidence of ascites syndrome in broilers.
Beta-adrenergic agonists have been shown to be capable of improving growth performance in poultry when added to the feed at 1.0 ppm. However, no reference has been made concerning the cardiovascular responses when one of these agents is added to the feed at a lower concentration during the whole production cycle. The aim of this paper was to assess the effects on the ascites syndrome of 0.25 ppm clenbuterol in the feed, throughout 52 d, in broiler chicks. Results showed a lack of difference in growth and feed conversion rate between the untreated control groups and the experimental group. There were differences in mortality due to the ascites syndrome, abdominal fat:body weight ratio, and ventricular index. A statistically significant positive correlation was also found between ventricular index and mortality rate (r = 0.98). If adequate withdrawal times are ensured, the use of clenbuterol at 0.25 ppm is suggested to reduce mortality due to the ascites syndrome in broilers.
Ocampo
L
L
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City. ocampoc@servidor.unam.mx
Cortez
U
U
Sumano
H
H
Avila
E
E
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009929:Organ Size; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013577:Syndrome
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D002976:Clenbuterol