Field, clinical and pathological observations of a runting and stunting syndrome in broilers

Observations on a runting and stunting syndrome in broiler chickens in Victoria, Australia, based on general observations from 1980 to 1983 on 2244 chickens from 109 affected broiler chicken flocks, are summarised. The details on 156 of these birds from five affected flocks with varying runting percentages are presented. Typically affected birds were presented with atrophy of the pancreas, the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius.