Philippine E-Journals

Hematologic Assessment In Commercial Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus L.) Layers During First Annual Molt

S.s. Villanueva | Ninfa P. Roxas | Severino S. Capitan | Sonia P. Acda | Florinia E. Merca

Discipline: Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

A study was conducted to determine the changes in blood cell count at different stages of feather shedding in 18-month old layers. Erythrocyte count of both natural and feed-deprived (induced) layers decreased throughout the duration of shedding until feathers were completely replaced, indicative of anemia. As feather shedding progressed, the white blood cell count was altered. The increase in heterophil count was much higher than the normal values in both natural and induced layers throughout molting. The low lymphocyte count was far behind the normal range in both molting groups, and the fall was initiated at the start of feather shedding up to the time feathers were replaced. The eosinophil count was lower in layers induced to molt than in the natural molting layers but were within the normal range in chicken. The basophil count in layers induced to molt were greater than the normal values. Monocyte counts greatly decreased in layers induced to molt but both molting groups had values lower than the normal range.