The effect of dietary fat and protein levels, form and cereal type on fatty liver and kidney syndrome in chicks.

A total of 4200 day-old Ross I broiler chicks were subjected to an ambient temperature 2 to 3C degrees higher than normal and were fed various diets to determine the effects of dietary factors and sex on mortality from fatty liver and kidney syndrome (FLKS). In a first experiment mortality was not significantly influenced by cereal type (barley or wheat) but was influenced significantly by fat content of the diet. In a second experiment mortality was increased significantly with a low protein diet and with a pelleted one compared with a mash diet. In both experiments mortality was signigicantly higher in females than in males. High levels of protein and fat in the diet had a protective influence on mortality but the results, especially with pelleted diets, suggested that some other nutrient(s) might be involved in the syndrome.