BONUS SPRING SUMMER 2025

Sudden death syndrome in broilers Leon Mmokela Mashiane – Technical Advisor: Poultry Sudden death syndrome is of significant economic concern in both commercial and small-scale broiler production. Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a condition characterised by the acute death of well-nourished and seemingly healthy birds after abrupt and brief flapping of their wings. The exact cause of SDS in broilers remains unknown, but it is thought to be ametabolic disease inwhich nutrition, genetics, and environment are contributing factors. The birds are often found lying on their backs; hence it is commonly known as “flip-overs”. The condition is reported to be responsible for 1–1,5% of themortalities in broilers. This condition predominantly affects fast-growing broilers fromas early as four days old, with a rise inmortalities occurring at three to four weeks of age, with a higher prevalence observed in males. This article will discuss the possible causes and preventative measures through management. Rapid growth The selection of broilers for rapid growth and high meat yield may lead to metabolic imbalances and cardiovascular abnormalities. This rapid growth can put a strain on the cardiovascular system, potentially leading to fatal arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). High-energy diets, particularly those rich in carbohydrates, can overwhelm the metabolic capacity of young birds, potentially contributing to cardiac dysfunction. The goal of most farms is to grow broilers as fast as possible; however, to reduce the risk of SDS on the farm, farmers must realise the importance of controlling growth, especially in the first 21 days, to allow for the development of organs. A “belly feeding” is a feeding strategy where the growth is controlled in the starter period and grower period, and increased in the finisher period to ease off pressure on developing organs. Graph 1 shows the potential growth line (pink) and the controlled growth curve (blue); the blue line illustrates the controlled growth of broilers. www.agribonus.co.za Spring/Summer 2025 BONUS 29