Ascites (Water Belly) in Broiler Chickens during Winter Season
Published:December 19, 2011
Summary
Ascites (or water belly) is a condition of fast growing broiler chickens in which the excess amount of ascitic fluid accumulated in the abdominal cavity. It has become major concern to the poultry industry around the world. This condition is extremely common in high altitude & more particularly during winter / cooler season.
Ascites is associated with inadequate supply of oxygen, poor vent...
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Bouayad Good morning This problem mainly occurs during winter season from my experiences due to Major cause deficiency of oxygen - and high % of CO2 1-heater utilizeO2 and produce co2 2-bad ventilation 3-sometimes due to high level of sodium in ration -or high fish meal or increase salt physiological due to increase pressure in the liver due to increase pulmonary arterial pressure cause shortage of gas exchange consequently leakage of blood fluid without R.B.Cs into body cavity--Ascites.
Ascites "syndrome" in broiler caused by: cold stress, high growth rate especially in high nutrient density pelleted diets, high sodium and chloride intake, high altitudes, low antioxidants level in the diet, respiratory diseases, high stocking density.
Ascites is associated with a lack of oxygen. The high body weight achievers face this metabolic problem in winter especially. The solution to this problem is the ample supply of oxygen through minimum ventilation.
Dr. Samuel Uchenna Felix cold stress during the winter is the most common cause, however diseases that affecting liver function leading to hypoproteinemia can also cause ascites
Several factors are involved in triggering Ascites in poultry such as fast growth rate (genetics) of broilers, cold stress, high ammonia level, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, etc. In fact, the main cause is low concentration of oxygen in the house not satisfying the oxygen demand by the chicken.
yusuf dambha Ascites has no cure but preventive measures should be taken to reduce the probability of ascites development for example house ventilation, antioxidant supplementation.
hi, many poultry farmers are now using hydrogen peroxide (5ml in 10litre water)as a treatment for water belly ....according to them it sees to work... please comment? thakns
yusuf dambha
hi
hydrogen peroxide is an antimicrobial disinfectant and it may reduce intestinal pathogens. I don't think H2O2 is a treatment for ascites, but maybe it improves gut health and therefore reduces gut oxygen consumption, therefore increases oxygen availability to the birds. This is a hypothesis and it needs a controlled experiment to confirm it.
I agree with Yusuf, I don't think there is a medication developed so far for Ascites treatment. Our previous study suggested that managing the concentration of oxygen in the brooding, rearing as well as laying houses through proper management practices such as adequate ventilation, litter management, temperature control, feeding of balanced diets, etc. will significantly reduce the incidence.
Yes due to too much cold during the winter the farmers tend to be so protect their birds as so the ventilations are minimized depriving fresh air in the Poultry House... This can cause problem and will show in the 3weeks to 4weeks... While it's too late to control the situation but still it's not the end of story just improve the ventilations and temperature.. thank you..
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