STUDY ON SOME HEMATOLOGICAL AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF NEWLY INTRODUCED LAYER BREEDS DEPENDING ON THE LAYING PERIOD

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare some major hematological and biochemical blood parameters of 3 newly introduced poultry breeds – Australorp, Marans and Araucana, during different stages of their egglaying period. METHODS: Five blood parameters were investigated: hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose, total protein and total cholesterol. A hundred blood samples were tested, collected at three laying stages – beginning, middle and end. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the hemoglobin levels by sexes were established: in Marans breed (males – between 8.38 and 13.45; females – between 7.30 and 9.02 g*dl-1 ) and Araucana (males – between 9.17 and 13.65; females – between 9.08 and 9.40 g*dl-1 ). The hematocrit levels in the males (from 23.16% in Marans to 40.88% in Australorp) were significantly higher than the levels in the females (from 23.72% in Marans to 30.48% in Australorp). The blood glucose test of the cocks (from 32.07 in Marans to 40.88 mmol*l-1 in Australorp) showed higher levels compared to the female (from 23.72 in Marans to 30.48 mmol*l-1 in Australorp). The total protein content in the layers’ blood (between 5.97 in Araucana and 8.73 g*dl-1 in Marans) was higher compared to cocks. The total cholesterol levels were, as follows: males – from 2.05 in Araucana to 3.49 mmol*l-1 in Australorp; females – from 1.92 in Australorp to 6.57 3.49 mmol*l-1 in Araucana. CONCLUSIONS: The variations in the investigated parameters in the blood are a result of the simultaneous effect of several factors - breed genetic differences, differences in egg-laying effort and degree of adaptation.

Keywords

• glucose
• hematocrit
• hemoglobin
• layers
• total cholesterol
• total protein