Gout in India is still one of the major causes for huge mortality and morbidity in poultry, causing great monetary losses to the producers.
Gout due to water deprivation, particularly in the winter season in various parts of India should be taken care of by providing optimal brooding temperatures.
Causes of Gout:
a) Nutritional including minerals, vitamins, and protein.
b) Infectious diseases viral as IB, Astro, and IBD
c) or metabolic as Ascites – Hypoxic conditions increase the production of uric acid.
d) Ascites in the initial stages can lead to symptoms of gout.
Managemental causes:
a) Water deprivation
b) or improper hatchery
management like Improper egg storage
c) Inadequate incubation conditions
d) Improper conditions in the chick holding room
e) Chicks held for a long in the hatchery
f) or transported for a long distance without water
Mycotoxins, drugs, or chemicals.
Prevention & Treatment includes
Breeder management along with adequate farm and hatchery management are crucial in preventing incidences of gout.
No medication alters the course of IBV infection, but we can give antimicrobial therapy to reduce mortalities caused by complicating bacterial infections.
Immuno modulators in water for few weeks will considerably reduce the intensity.
Feed needs to be supplemented with good quality acidifier and toxin binder to take care of mycotoxin and microbial (bacterial and fungal) load respectively.
Supplement with Electrolytes, Vitamins, and minerals in drinking water
Reducing the protein concentrations in feed and feeding with maize grain particles for three to five days to reduce the exertion of kidneys and to expel uric acid.
Use of jaggery (concentrated sugar) also seems to be beneficial.
The producer should be proactive enough to include optimal additives/supplements in water that would aid in cutting down the usual mortality pattern.
Any practice that encourages flushing out uric acid crystals should be adopted, the easiest and vital being boosting up water intake, or else the whole effort of providing medications through water can be futile.
Dr. V. Rajendra Prasad,
B.V.Sc ( Gold medallist) 1972 to 1977 M.V.Sc ( Animal Nutrition)
Poultry Consultant
