Effects of cimetidine on broiler fattening and on stress-induced gizzard erosion in chicken

• Published in: Acta veterinaria Hungarica (Budapest. 1983) Vol. 472
• Main Authors: Grabarevic,Z, Dzaja,P, Peric,J, Serman,V, BiDin,I, Mazija,H, Mas,N, Mikulec,Z, Culjak,K, Simec,Z, Njari,B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1999
• Subjects: BODY WEIGHT; CANAL ANIMAL; CARCASSE; CARCASSES; CHICKENS; CONSOMMATION ALIMENTAIRE (ANIMAUX); CONSUMO DE PIENSOS; DRUG THERAPY; ESTRES; FEED CONSUMPTION; GESIER; GIZZARD; MOLLEJA (ESTOMAGO); PESO CORPORAL; POIDS CORPOREL; POLLO; POULET; STRESS; TERAPEUTICA MEDICAMENTOSA; THERAPEUTIQUE MEDICAMENTEUSE
• ISSN: 0236-6290

Three-day-old chicks (30/group) were treated intragastrically with 0.5 ml saline or with cimetidine at 5 mg/kg body weight, subjected to stress by immersion in tap water for a few seconds and then killed 1, 2 or 3 h later.The mean length of gizzard erosion (GE) was decreased in cimetidine-treated chicks compared with controls.In a second experiment, day-old chicks (16/group) were untreated or given cimetidine at 10 mg/kg feed for 42 days.Treated chicks had reduced liveweight (1835.1 g), carcass weight (1474.6 g) and increased feed consumption (2115 g/kg weight gain) compared with untreated chicks (1898.5 g, 1574.2 g and 1797 g, respectively).It is concluded that while stress-induced GE of chicks can be medicated pharmacologically, long-term application of the same substance impairs growth performance.