Growth Performance and Physiological Variables for Broiler Chickens Subjected to Short-Term Elevated Carbon Dioxide Concentrations

4 Abstract: Four trials were conducted to evaluate growth responses, blood chemistry and heart characteristics of broiler chicks subjected to progressive concentrations (0, 3,000, 6,000, 9,000 ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO ) gas from 1-14 days of age, which were then discontinued throughout the remainder 2 of the trial (42 days of age). On days 14 and 42 of each trial, 20 birds per chamber were randomly selected for immediate analysis of blood partial pressure of CO (pCO ), blood partial pressure of O (pO ), blood pH, 2 2 2 2 hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), blood electrolytes (Na , K , Ca and Cl ) and determination of hear t + + 2+ -