In their paper published in International Journal of Poultry Science recently, Adel Feizi and Mehrdad Nazeri of the Islamic Azad University in Tabriz, Iran, explained that the main objective of their study was to determine the relationship between the incidence of ascites syndrome and ventilation factor in broiler chickens in the northwest region of Iran. They studied seven flocks that showed ascites syndrome.

They observed unsuitable ventilation conditions in all seven poultry houses. Increasing the inlet area and ventilation rates, while also setting maximum ventilation rates for the summer and minimum rates for the winter, the incidence of ascites syndrome decreased to between one and 1.5 per cent from between 4.0 and 7.5 per cent previously in all seven poultry houses. Furthermore, Feizi and Nazeri report that the prevalence of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) complex also fell after the ventilation adjustment – from between five and eight per cent to no more than 3.5 per cent.

The Tabriz researchers commented that their study confirms carbon dioxide and oxygen contribute significantly to the incidence of ascites under unsuitable ventilation and it is possible to decrease the incidence rate of ascites by correction of the poultry house conditions.

Reference

Feizi A. and M. Nazeri. 2011. Study of the relation between the incidence of ascites syndrome and the ventilation factor in broiler chickens of the broiler house. International Journal of Poultry Science, 10(8): 637-639.

Further Reading

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Further Reading

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Find out more information on ascites by clicking here.