Haemorrhagic liver syndrome of broiler chickens fed diets containing rapeseed products.

Haemorrhagic livers were observed in male white rock chicks of one to four weeks old, that were fed diets supplemented with 50 per cent rapeseed meal and 50 per cent rapeseed full-fat seeds. The haemorrhagic lesions were comparable to those of the laying hens except for the absence of fatty degeneration. There were no substantial fibrotic lesions. Multifocal or solitary hepatocytic necrosis was observed around the haemorrhagic lesions, although the necrotic foci did not always accompany the haemorrhage. The reticulum only of the necrotic and haemorrhagic lesions was not demonstrated with silver strain. Association of hepatocytic necrosis with liver haemorrhage and absence of argyrophilic fibres suggested that the hepatocytic necrosis was the primary contributory factor for the development of the hepatic haemorrhage.