Occurrence of respiratory affections in commercial layer chicken reared in Srinagar

The present study was aimed to investigate the occurrence of respiratory tract affections in layer chickens in Srinagar. Four types of layers including broiler breeder chicken, Vanraja, Kashmir Commercial Layer and Rodhe Island Red were monitored through 3 to 6 months of age. Studies carried out included evaluating mortality pattern in with special reference to clinical and postmortem examination of respiratory involvement, breed wise evaluation of mortality pattern, and respiratory lesions observed. Among layers the overall mortality observed was higher in RIR (5.10%), followed by Vanraja (4.27%), KCL (3.13%) and broiler parent stock (1.76%). Gross tracheal lesions observed included congestion (4.18%), haemorrhage (2.92%), congestion with exudates (2.23%); exudates (1.25%) and casseous plug in larynx and trachea (0.97%) while lungs revealed congestion (16.03%) and consolidation (2.64%). Air sacs revealed cloudiness (11.29%) and thickening (2.51%). In general higher occurrence of respiratory lesions was observed in KCL followed broiler breeders, Vanraja and RIR..