EFFECT OF DIETARY RESERPINE ON THE INCIDENCE OF SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME IN CHICKENS

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Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various levels of dietary reserpine on growth, feed conversion, percent mortality and percent mortality due to sudden death syndrome (SDS) of meat-type chickens to 10 wk of age. In one experiment, dietary reserpine (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg) had no significant effect on body weight gain but reduced feed:gain ratios with the two highest levels at 3 wk and at all levels at 7 and 10 wk. In the second experiment (0.0, 0.75, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg), dietary reserpine resulted in lower body weight at 3, 7 and 10 wk of age while feed:gain ratios at 7 or 10 wk were not affected. In both experiments neither total mortality nor mortality due to SDS was influenced by dietary reserpine. Key words: Reserpine, sudden death syndrome, broilers, roasters, growth, feed:gain