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Use of Electrocardiography for Genetic Selection of Broiler Breeders: Effects on Live Performance and Ascites Incidence

J. Arce-Menocal^*, E. Avila-Gonzalez, C. Lopez-Coello and L. A. Martinez-Lemus

^* Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias, Ecuador 120 Fraccionamiento Americas, CP 58270, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
Departamento de Produccion Animal:Aves, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, DF, Mexico
Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University System, Health Science Center, College Station, Texas 77843

Correspondence: L. A. Martinez-Lemus, E-mail: luism{at}tamu.edu

Ascites, also known as pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS), is a specific type of metabolic and cardiovascular disorder with a clear genetic component that affects fast-growing broiler chickens. In order to use genetic selection to reduce the incidence of PHS, a simple and easy to use indicator of PHS resistance or susceptibility in broiler breeders needs to be provided to geneticists. Electrocardiography is a noninvasive technology able to detect changes in heart function that have been associated with PHS susceptibility. Results from the present study demonstrated that broiler breeders having electrocardiographic parameters indicative of susceptibility or resistance to PHS produce progeny populations with high or low incidences of PHS. Furthermore, at the end of a 49-d grow-out period, progeny with the lowest PHS incidence also had significantly greater body weight and better feed conversion than progeny with the highest PHS incidence. These results indicated that electrocardiography could be successfully used to select for PHS resistance without detrimental effects on live performance.

Key Words: pulmonary hypertension syndrome • body weight • feed conversion • electrocardiogram