Hematocrit values and mortality from ascites in cold-stressed broilers from parents selected by hematocrit

A hypothesis that the relative hematocrit value of broilers is inherited and can serve as an indicator of partial resistance to the ascites syndrome in cold-stressed broilers was shown to be valid in a field trial. Hematocrits were determined for male and female grandparent breeding stocks. Matings were then made between low (LL), low-medium (LM), medium-high (MH), and high (HH) hematocrit parents: LL x LL, LM x LM, MH x MH, and HH x HH. The progeny of HH parents had higher hematocrit values than the progeny of lower hematocrit parents (P < 0.0001). Exposure of the progeny from all the parental groups to an ascites-predisposing cold environment caused higher losses from ascites in the progeny of the HH parents (P < 0.0001). The progeny of LH parents had an increased mortality from causes other than ascites (P < 0.0001). This work suggests that elimination of birds with HH in broiler breeding programs may be desirable where cold-induced ascites is an important problem.