This experiment was conducted to study the effect of 3 feeding programs (3, 4 and 5 feeding phases) using different nutritional ration levels for broiler chickens on the incidence of ascites, with male and female being reared in separated box during winter. Six replications were used for each treatment, with 40 birds per replication. The performance was evaluated, including mortality (by ascites and total), and right ventricle hypertrophy and change in the hematocrit were also studied. The hematocrit values were not different between treatments (p < 0.05), but higher values (p < 0.05) were verified for males compared to females for: body weight, feed ingestion and ventricles weight (right ventricle, RV and total ventricles, VT). A positive correlation was verified between RV:TV and the incidence of ascites. It was also observed that mortality due to ascites was higher (p < 0.05) for males receiving three feeding programs and fed with more energetic rations. Based on the conditions that the experiment was carried out, the findings suggest that more energetic feeding schedules predispose the mortality by ascites, mainly in male broiler chickens.
ascites; broiler; feeding programs; hematocrit; ventricle hypertrophy
