Progressive bradycardia, a possible factor in the pathogenesis of ascites in fast growing broiler chickens raised at low altitude

1. The first objective was to evaluate baseline heart rate (HR) responses in fast growing broilers fed ad libitum from 1 to 45d or subjected to a food restriction (85%, 70% and 55% of ad libitum from 7 to 21d) and a refeeding (22 to 45d) regimen in a normal thermal environment. The second was to evaluate HR and haematocrit responses in fast growing broilers reared at a low environmental temperature and fed ad libitum (A-L) from 1 to 42d, subjected to food restriction (70% ad libitum) between 7 to 21d and refed thereafter (R-R), or subjected to food restriction between 7 to 42d (R), and to follow the changes in normal birds and those prone to ascites. 2. The baseline HR in the normal thermal environment at 21 and 45d in birds fed ad libitum was lower (P < 0.001) than at 7d. The food-restricted groups had higher HRs at 21d than at 7d, with the differences significant (P < 0.01) for the 70% and 55% treatments. At 21d the HRs in restricted groups were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in ad libitum-fed birds. After returning to ad libitum feeding the HRs in these birds tended to decline, with the differences significant (P < 0.05) for the 70% and 55% treatments. 3. In the birds exposed to cold, each feeding regimen produced distinct patterns of change in HR and haematocrit. Both feeding regimen and age had significant (P < 0.001) effects on the changes of both variables. Relative to 7d, on 14d and 21d the HRs decreased and haematocrits increased in all groups, but the rates of change were highest in the A-L and R-R birds. The first fulminant cases of ascites were observed during the third week in the A-L group and during the fourth week in the R-R group. None of the chickens from the R group developed ascites. Altogether, the incidence of ascites was 48% in the A-L group and 28% in the R-R group. 4. Among the birds exposed to cold, the ascitic birds had significantly (P < 0.001) lower HRs and higher haematocrits than normal birds from the same feeding regimen group. The time trends in the rates of change in HR and haematocrit were distinctly different (P < 0.001) for ascitic and normal birds. The change in feeding regimen from restricted to ad libitum in the R-R group resulted in a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in HR and increase in haematocrit. 5. In view of the evidence presented, it appears that hypoxaemia and tissue hypoxia in broiler chickens may be a result of circulatory insufficiency associated with progressive bradycardia rather than, as commonly believed, pulmonary insufficiency. In this situation the pulmonary hypertension may be a secondary symptom.