CAUSES OF BROILER MORTALITY IN AN INTENSIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF PARÁ, BRAZIL
Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine the causes of mortality in broilers reared in an intensive commercial facility in the northeast region of Pará. A batch of 34 thousand birds was followed, in a 42-day production cycle, during which necropsies and histological analysis of samples of birds that died spontaneously were performed. During the period, a mortality of 1,508 birds was recorded, representing 4.4%, of which 450 birds (29.8%) were culled. A total of 237 birds were necropsied, and 344 diagnoses were established, of which 192 (55.8%) were classified as non-infectious and 152 (44.2%) infectious. The main non-infectious changes diagnosed were ascitic syndrome (40/11.6%), femoral head degeneration (37/10.8%), tracheitis (34/9.9%) cachexia/starvation (23/6.7%) and pododermatitis (20/5.8%). The main infectious changes observed were airsacculitis (28/8.1%), polyserositis (23/6.7%), pneumonia (22/6.4%), omphalitis/yolk sac infection (21/5.8%), necrotic hepatitis (17/4.9%), vegetative endocarditis (14/4.1%) and fibrinous pericarditis (10/2.9%). Although the mortality rate was not considered high, the infectious alterations were registered as important causes of mortality, different from what it is expected in modern poultry industry. This demonstrates the need to identify the epidemiological and etiological factors responsible for these changes, to implement adequate control and prophylaxis measures.
Author Biographies
Master in Animal Health in the Amazon and currently teaching the Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon.
Teacher of Basic, Technical and Technological Education at the Federal Institute of Pará, Castanhal-PA.
Doctor in Animal Health for the Post-Graduation Program in Animal Health in the Amazon (PPGSAAM-UFPA).
Master in Animal Health in the Amazon and currently teaching the Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon.
Teacher at the Federal University of Pará. Experience in the area of Veterinary Medicine, with an emphasis on Animal Pathology.
Associate Teacher IIII of the Federal University of Pará.
Associate Teacher at the Federal University of Pará.
Associate Professor III at the Federal University of Pará. Has experience in the fields of Immunology, Virology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology.
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